US Senator Rick Scott visits Cyprus and condemns Turkish occupation

United States Senator Rick Scott visited Nicosia on October 16, 2026, to tour the UN-controlled buffer zone. During his visit, the Republican senator from Florida and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued a sharp condemnation of Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, characterizing the ongoing division of Cyprus as a direct result of Turkish actions.

Senator Scott labeled the situation an invasion of Cyprus’s sovereignty, stating that the island should be a single, fully independent nation where citizens can make their own decisions. He specifically challenged Turkey’s role as a NATO member, questioning why the country does not act as a genuine ally to the United States while simultaneously seeking closer diplomatic ties with Washington. The senator asserted that the buffer zone is unnecessary and should be removed to allow for the country's unification.

This visit highlights continued interest from U.S. lawmakers in the Cyprus problem. Scott, who also chairs the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, emphasized that Turkey must change its current behavior regarding its treatment of sovereign nations to maintain its standing as an ally.