Foreign relations of Northern Cyprus

On 9 August 2022, Azerbaijan's president received TRNC President Ersin Tatar in Konya and regarded Northern Cyprus officially as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".[14]

After the Republic of Cyprus became a member of the European Union, the southern part of the island became part of the Customs Union of the EU. The Northern part of the island is excluded from the Customs Union. In spite of that, the Green Line regulations are intended to ease trade relations between North Cyprus and the EU.

Despite the lack of any formal diplomatic or legal relationship, in practice, a reasonably co-operative working relationship has built up between the administrative services and the police in both parts of the island.[15] There are nine border crossings between Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus.[16] Since May 2004 some tourists have taken to flying to the Republic of Cyprus directly then crossing the green line to vacation in Northern Cyprus.[17]

Oil exploration in East Mediterranean became a problem between the administrations of the north and the south side since 2000.

In 2011 and 2012, the then President of Northern Cyprus Derviş Eroğlu and President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo held meetings in New York, US.[18][19]

In 2023, the president of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, strongly protested France's illegal[20] naval base in the southern part of the Cyprus island.[21]

In 2022, the President of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, received the Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, Badara Alieu Joof, who invited President Tatar to The Gambia.[22]

Although Germany does not maintain official relations with Northern Cyprus, it has wide-ranging contact with representatives of the Turkish Cypriots. [23]

In 2014, the-then Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay and his delegation was received by the Secretary General of the Greek Foreign Ministry, Anastasios Mitsialis.[24][25]

In 2008, the minister of Economy, Finance and Planning of Guinea, Ousmane Doré, visited Northern Cyprus and met with Turgay Avci, the minister of Foreign Affairs of Northern Cyprus.[26][27]

On 18 February 2008, the President of the TRNC, Mehmet Ali Talat, congratulated the people of Kosovo on their new-found independence, in opposition to the Republic of Cyprus, which has not recognised Kosovo as an independent state. However, presidential spokesman Hasan Ercakica stated that the TRNC was not preparing to officially recognise Kosovo.[28] In contrast, the Republic of Cyprus has rejected Kosovo's declaration of independence and, given the ICJ ruling that Kosovo's declaration of independence was not illegal, stating that Kosovo and Northern Cyprus were not analogous situations.[29]

In 2008 Kyrgyzstan earthquake, Northern Cyprus helped Kyrgyzstan and granted tents, blankets, tons of food, construction materials (cement, covering slate, timber and bricks), power generators, wood stoves, and warm clothes.[30] In 2016, a common Turkish Cypriot–Kyrgyz business cooperation no forum was held in Kyrgyzstan.[31]

On 30 October 2011, Libya and Northern Cyprus signed the Cooperation on Health Services Protocol. The protocol included to reserve 250 beds at the Near East University hospital in North Nicosia for the treatment of injured Libyans.[32][33][34]

On 5 August 2023, Malaysia allowed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to open a trade office in Malaysia.[35][36]

In February 2017, the president of Northern Cyprus, Mustafa Akinci was received by the president of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain.[37]

On 4 August 2023, the signing of a memorandum of understanding on higher education was agreed between Northern Cyprus and Pakistan.[38]

In February 2008, Vladimir V. Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, equated the Northern Cyprus situation with that resulting from a unilateral Kosovo declaration of independence, which he opposes, in order to point out European countries' double standards in their desire to recognize Kosovo region as an independent state.[39]

On 2 September 2008, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey announced that if Turkey recognized the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia would recognize the TRNC as an independent country.[40] Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected this variant.[41]

In September 2023, Russia started consular services in Northern Cyprus.[42][43]

Northern Cypriot flag at Ulus Square in Ankara.

The TRNC fully supports Turkey's bid to join the European Union. As part of this bid, Turkey signed a protocol extending its customs union to the new EU members, including the Republic of Cyprus, which Turkey does not recognise. Turkey made sure this was not tantamount to recognition with the inclusion of a declaration, stipulating their continued policy of non-recognition of what they describe as the "Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus" until a settlement is reached. This declaration is not accepted by the EU which did not accept this statement as forming part of the acquis and expects Turkey to fully abide to its obligations against the Republic of Cyprus. The TRNC views any move by the EU to force Turkish recognition of the Republic of Cyprus as an effort to cut them off from their base of support.[44]

On 21 September 2011, Turkey and Northern Cyprus signed the EEZ border agreement in New York.[45][46]

In January 2018, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün voiced support for the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin. Özgürgün said his greatest wish is the successful outcome of the Afrin operation.[47]

The UK maintains a dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot community, although still does not recognize Northern Cyprus.[48]

On 3 February 2017, UK's High Court ruled that "There was no duty in UK law upon the Government to refrain from recognising Northern Cyprus. The United Nations itself works with Northern Cyprus law enforcement agencies and facilitates co-operation between the two parts of the island."[49] Turkish Cypriot governmental officials declared that Northern Cyprus must be ready to Brexit since EU acquis will not be binding on UK thereby UK and Northern Cyprus can trade just as pre-1994 ECtHR ruling.

The United States abstained in a vote in 1984 in the UN Security Council condemning "secessionist activities" on Cyprus.[50] A Northern Cyprus Representative Office is located in Washington, D.C. The Representative Office in New York City is the de facto mission of the TRNC to the United Nations Organisation (as well as a de facto Consulate-General).

On 9 October 2014, the USA's Federal Court stated that "the TRNC purportedly operates as a democratic republic with a president, prime minister, legislature and judiciary".[51][52][53]

On 28 September 2021, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Northern Cyprus, Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu had meetings with members of the House of Representatives of the US Congress, Congressman Peter Anderson Sessions and Congressman Steve Chabot, respectively.[54]

On 3 August 2023, US Congressman and former chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Pete Sessions, visited Northern Cyprus. Sessions met with President Ersin Tatar; he visited the Turkish Cypriot parliament building where he was met by Parliamentary Speaker Zorlu Töre, and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce.[55][56][57][58]