This year marks the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s invasion of the Republic of Cyprus. On July 20th, 1974, Turkish troops landed on Cyprus, in response to a coup inspired by the military dictatorship in Greece. The attempted coup failed, a ceasefire was reached, and the junta in Greece collapsed, paving the way for the return of democracy. 

On August 14, in the middle of peace talks in Geneva, Turkey launched phase two of its invasion, occupying over one third of Cyprus. 50 years later, nearly 40,000 Turkish troops maintain this illegal occupation, keeping Cyprus - an EU member - divided, refugees from their homes, and families still searching for the remains of hundreds of missing relatives. Among the missing are a number of American citizens.

There can be no mistake: this is an occupation. Unfortunately, the US Department of State inexplicably fails to use the word occupation to describe the ongoing violation of international law in Cyprus. Officially, the State Department acknowledges the presence of “a substantial number of Turkish troops” on the island, it notes that it does not recognize any entity in the northern part of Cyprus, and it consistently supports UN Security Council Resolutions condemning the Turkish military presence in Cyprus. Despite these acknowledgements, it falls short of naming what all these circumstances are: an occupation. Just like the famous saying about ducks, if it walks like an occupation, if it talks like an occupation, it is an occupation. 

The State Department’s position here is even more puzzling given the rhetoric it uses with regard to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Moreover, the State Department also clearly refers to “Occupied Territories” when referring to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. 

Refraining from using the word occupation when it comes to Cyprus has clearly emboldened the intransigent positions of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, who have not only violated UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus, but are now also openly calling for a two state solution, contrary to US policy.

Beyond Turkey, the US failure to call the occupation in Cyprus what it is also encourages revisionist powers like Russia to risk land grabs without fearing long term consequences.

It’s time to right this wrong. We urge you to clearly use the word “occupation” when it comes to describing the status quo in Cyprus.