In A Rebuke To Turkey, U.S. Congress Ends Arms Embargo To Cyprus

Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup engineered by the then military regime in Greece [File: Yiannis Kourtoglou/Reuters]

AFP: US Congress ends Cyprus arms embargo, in blow to Turkey

Washington (AFP) - The US Congress voted Tuesday to lift a decades-old arms embargo on Cyprus, defying Turkey by seeking warmer ties at a time of renewed tensions.

The Senate approved the measure as part of a massive defense spending bill that passed 86 to eight and already went through the House of Representatives, with President Donald Trump likely to sign it.

The United States imposed an embargo on the full island in 1987 with an aim to prevent an arms race and encourage a peaceful settlement between the Greek majority and Turkish minority.

Critics say the step has been counterproductive by forcing Cyprus to seek other partners while Turkey, a NATO member, has stationed forces in northern Cyprus since its invasion in 1974.

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Update: Congress sides with Cyprus against Turkey as eastern Mediterranean heats up (Al-Monitor).

WNU Editor: Turkey has responded .... Turkey warns of 'escalation' if US ends Cyprus arms embargo (Al Jazeera). More here .... Turkey objects to attempts to lift US arms embargo (Cyprus Mail).