Turkish media outlets have sparked widespread discussion and controversy by referring to the entire island of Cyprus as "Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti" (Republic of Cyprus) on flight path maps—marking what appears to be the first such instance in over 51 years.
This occurred in coverage of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent flight to the United States, which routed over Greece, Italy, and France. Traditionally, Turkish state and mainstream media avoid recognizing the Republic of Cyprus, instead using terms like "Güney Kıbrıs" (Southern Cyprus), "Güney Kıbrıs Rum Yönetimi" (Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus), or simply "South Cyprus" to denote the internationally recognized government in the south.
By labeling the island fully as the Republic of Cyprus—without qualifiers—the maps implicitly acknowledge the sovereign name of the Republic, which Turkey has not diplomatically recognized since the 1974 division.
This change has fueled outrage in pro-government circles, viewed by some as an unintended concession amid heightened tensions following the Israel-Greece-Cyprus trilateral summit. Critics see it as highlighting Turkey's frustration over regional alliances bypassing Ankara.
While not an official policy shift, the incident underscores the sensitivities around Cyprus nomenclature in Turkish public discourse.
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