The potential acquisition by Cyprus of Israeli Merkava battle tanks of the third and fourth modifications is becoming one of the key factors causing growing concern in Ankara.
This deal is considered by the Turkish side not just as an upgrade of the armored vehicle fleet, but as part of a large-scale strategy for the geopolitical strengthening of Nicosia, supported by active cooperation with Israel and France.
According to diplomatic observer Vasilis Nedos, negotiations between Cyprus and Israel on the supply of Merkava are at an advanced stage. These modern vehicles are designed to replace outdated Soviet-made tanks, which are still in service with the island’s National Guard. Updating the logistical base of the Cypriot army marks a qualitative leap in the republic’s defense capability, but in Turkey this step is regarded as a direct challenge to the status quo in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Nedos recalls that military-technical cooperation between Nicosia and Tel Aviv is far from limited to tanks. In recent years, Cyprus has successfully integrated Israeli Aerostar unmanned aerial vehicles into its armed forces, as well as acquired the advanced BARAK-MX anti-aircraft missile system, capable of solving both air and missile defense tasks. Kathimerini draws attention to the fact that bilateral defense ties are expanding systematically and cover more and more areas, which makes Cyprus one of Israel’s key partners in the region.
In the context of the strengthening of the Cyprus-Israel alliance, Nedos pays special attention to Turkey’s foreign policy activities. In his opinion, Ankara is undertaking diplomatic maneuvers to strengthen its own influence in Lebanon. The main goal of the Turkish side is to prevent the rapprochement of Beirut with Nicosia and Athens, which could lead to the formation of a new regional bloc. The reason for such close attention was the recent visit of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the Turkish capital and his subsequent talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during which, experts believe, issues of security and regional cooperation were discussed.
Ankara insists that Lebanon maintain at least a neutral position in the face of the escalating confrontation between Turkey and Israel. The Turkish authorities are particularly concerned about even the hypothetical possibility of Beirut joining trilateral or multilateral cooperation formats involving Cyprus and Greece. Since such a development would radically change the balance of power, Lebanon finds itself in the center of a diplomatic struggle, where every step of its leadership is closely monitored by both Ankara and its geopolitical opponents.
A source: sigmalive.com
https://cyprusbutterfly.com.cy/news/planyi-kipra-zakupke-izrailskix-tankov
