The US-Cyprus defense cooperation has caused intense concern and irritation in Ankara.

SKAI’s international affairs analyst from Washington, Michalis Ignatiou, submitted a relevant question to the State Department on the occasion of Turkey’s progress on the agreement.

As Mr. Ignatiou mentioned, diplomatic sources said that the US is not going to apologize to Turkey for the decisions regarding security issues that serve its strategic interests.

The representative of the State Department, responding to a question from SKAI about Turkey’s threats against Cyprus on the occasion of the defense agreement between the two countries, said: “The US has bilateral security agreements with partners throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. These relationships are mutually reinforcing and are a way of strengthening stability at the regional level for the benefit of all.”

OR Cypriot side according to Mr. Ignatiou, it is completely satisfied with the statement of the Americans as it covers Cyprus and ranks it among its partners, fully recognizing the Republic of Cyprus even though it is not a member of NATO.

Turkey, however, considers the agreement a great challenge and is not going to give in to its demands that it be cancelled.

In its statement, Ankara claims that the US abandoned its neutrality in the Cyprus issue. However, as Mr. Ignatiou notes, in reality the USA was never neutral since it fully supported the Cypriot positions.

Finally, Turkey’s claim that there is an American base in Cyprus is not valid.