Turkey and Turkish Cypriot authorities sign agreement for gas pipeline

On Friday, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman met in the occupied north of Cyprus to discuss political coordination. During the visit, a memorandum of understanding was signed to construct an undersea natural gas pipeline connecting Anamur, Turkey, to the Teknecik power station near Kyrenia. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that the project will consist of two parallel 22-inch pipelines designed for bidirectional flow, aiming to supply energy to the island and potentially transport regional gas sources to Turkey and Europe. The Republic of Cyprus officially condemned the signing, describing the project as an illegal act that violates international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Nicosia stated that any energy infrastructure development in its maritime zones or on its territory without its consent constitutes a breach of its sovereignty. The Cypriot Foreign Ministry announced it would intensify diplomatic and legal efforts in international organizations to challenge the move. Meanwhile, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials characterized the pipeline as a vital step for the energy security of the Turkish Cypriot community.