Some 87.6 percent of Turks who participated the survey called the Cyprus government’s move to issue arrest warrants for the crew of a Turkish drillship a “nefarious and provocative move”
Yeni Şafak did not provide further information about when and how the survey was conducted.
The escalating tensions between Ankara and Washington over Turkey’s plans to acquire Russian S-400 missile systems have in recent months become tied in to the dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean over exploration for hydrocarbon resources near Cyprus.
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Robert Menendez in April introduced a new bill to enhance security cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean, which called for increased defence support for Turkey’s neighbours and demanded a halt to the delivery of 100 U.S. F-35 fighter jets ordered by Turkey if it completes its purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile system.
Three U.S. congressmen also introduced a new bipartisan bill in May that supports the growing partnership in the eastern Mediterranean between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus and calls for an end to the arms embargo on Cyprus.
A letter sent by acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan last week to his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar detailed the steps Washington will take as of July 31 for Turkey’s complete removal from the F-35 program unless Ankara reverses its decision to acquire S-400s. Nevertheless, the Turkish government is adamant it will go ahead with plans to purchase Russian system.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated in a Twitter post on Thursday that Turkey had already purchased the Russian S-400 batteries. The president said in the same post that Turkey was not only a buyer of F-35 stealth fighter jets, but also a partner in their production.
Erdoğan also said Turkey would not allow any steps taken in Cyprus that go against the rights and interest of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.
Bloomberg reported last month that Turkey was considering deploying Russian S-400 missile defence systems on its southern coast in an effort to boost its military capability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish news site Habertürk on Monday reported that the S-400s would likely to be located in Turkey’s southeast and Mediterranean borders.
Turkey is the only country to formally recognise the Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Ankara says the Greek administration would infringe on Turkish Cypriots’ rights by exploiting the reserves. The Turkish government also disputes the Greek Cypriots’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), part of which, Ankara says, lies on Turkey’s continental shelf.
Turkey announced last week that it would send a second drillship, Yavuz, to begin drilling off Cyprus by July, in addition to Fatih, which has been inside the Cyprus EEZ since early May.
Following the announcement, Cyprus issued arrest warrants for 25 people, including crew assisting the Turkish drilling vessel Fatih and officials at firms partnered with the state-run Turkish Petroleum Corporation.