Recently, Turkey continues to take steps to defend its Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean sovereignty areas with the 'Blue Homeland' doctrine and to consolidate its presence there. Within the scope of the 'Blue Homeland' doctrine, Ankara's most important power and ally in the Mediterranean is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Although this unity continues on an unshakable ground, Ankara's financial and political assistance is of great importance in order for Nicosia to maintain its position in the Mediterranean. However, the economic depression that Turkey has been in lately has started to cause major problems in financial aid.
The deteriorating economic data in Turkey also showed itself in Ankara's figures to support the TRNC's finances every year. According to the data of the TRNC Ministry of Finance, only a small part of the money our country sends every year could be sent this year. While the total budget allocated to the TRNC for 2021 was determined as 3 billion 238 million TL, only 35.84 percent of this figure, 895.9 million TL, was paid in 9 months.
TARGETS TO SUPPORT NICOSIA FAILED
Even if this unity continues on an unshakable ground, it is of great importance for Nicosia to maintain its position in the Mediterranean and Ankara's financial and political assistance. However, the economic depression that Turkey has been in lately has started to cause major problems in financial aid. These financial aids, which are important for the survival of Nicosia in the continuation of Turkish sovereignty in the Mediterranean, could not reach the 2021 targets.
35% OF THE PLANNED BUDGET CAN BE PAID IN 9 MONTHS
For 2021, 'Aid and Loans' was determined as 2 billion 500 million TL and then 3 billion 238 million TL with an amendment made. However, with the payments made so far, 35.84 percent of the figure, 895.9 million TL, has been covered.
27 PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC FINANCE BUDGET PAID
Budget plans failed not only in credit items that would support the budget, but also in other items. According to the data of the TRNC Ministry of Finance, the figures envisaged in the "Aid and Loans" item were far from the actual figures. In the prepared budget, the loan to be provided for 'supporting public finance' was determined as 1 billion 150 million TL, while the payment made by the end of September met only 27.7 percent of the target. In the January-September period, 862 million 500,000 TL was required to be paid, while this figure remained at 319 million 54 thousand TL.
FAILED IN THE DEFENSE BUDGET
The most striking of these unfulfilled payments was the item allocated to the defense budget. While a budget of 762,800,000 TL was allocated in 2021 for defense, which is an important topic for both Ankara and Nicosia to maintain its sovereignty in the Blue Homeland, the payment made so far has remained at the rate of 362 million TL, at the rate of 48%.