US builds new military base in former Turkish village in Greek Cyprus
Civil Engineering Support Equipment assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 is staged on a helicopter landing pad site at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base in Mari, Greek Cyprus, on June 6, 2024. (Photo via X)
The U.S. is moving forward with the establishment of a new military base in the former Turkish village of Tatlisu (Mari) in Greek Cyprus. Recent reports from the Greek Cypriot press indicate that construction is accelerating at the Evangelos Florakis Helicopter Base, with U.S. military equipment seen participating in the work.
The government of Greek Cyprus has granted the U.S. control over Tatlisu, where the new helicopter base is under construction. The expansion of the nearby naval base and port areas is also underway, with the U.S. providing technical support for these projects. The base’s strategic location next to the Vasiliko Power Plant has drawn attention.
While there have been past reports of a secret U.S. helicopter base in the region, the Pentagon has yet to address questions about the new base in Mari. The U.S. is expected to station Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters and V-22 Osprey aircraft, which are capable of vertical takeoff and landing.
Cypriot media outlets have also highlighted that Limassol Port serves as a docking point for U.S. and other international ships, while British military bases on the island remain operational.
US expands its influence in the eastern Mediterranean
Security expert Abdullah Agar noted that the U.S. aims to enhance its military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as in Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, through its base in Mari. He also suggested that the base would help bolster Israel’s security and provide the U.S. with better access to North Africa, including the Suez Canal.
Murat Aslan, Senior Researcher at the SETA Foundation, pointed out that the deployment of Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters and V-22 Osprey aircraft could serve specific strategic purposes. Aslan believes the U.S. may use the base for special operations in the Middle East with smaller, specialized units and to provide logistical support—including ammunition—to U.S. allies in the region.
The establishment of the U.S. military base in Greek Cyprus marks a significant shift in the region’s power dynamics. The development raises questions about how Türkiye will respond to these ongoing changes.
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