Cyprus 1974: Turkey’s Military Success Followed by Political Stalemate

Turkey achieved major gains through its military intervention in Cyprus following the Greek junta’s coup against Cypriot president Archbishop Makarios in July 1974. Yet Turkey has been repeatedly frustrated by its inability to capitalize on its military accomplishment and to achieve a political settlement that adequately safeguards Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot interests. This essay traces Turkish policy in Cyprus since 1974 and explains how the Turkish government led by the Justice and Development Party revised Ankara’s Cyprus policy to advance Turkey’s accession to the European Union. The fading prospects of Turkey’s EU membership have diminished Ankara’s interest in playing an active role in achieving a Cyprus settlement.