Northern Cyprus Foreign Ministry Rejects South Cyprus-ENI Natural Gas Deal

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Ministry has objected to contracts signed by the Greek Cypriot Administration of South Cyprus with Italy's ENI for the Kronos natural gas field. The ministry stated that the Turkish Cypriot people are the joint owners of the natural resources on and around the island.

According to the statement, the Greek Cypriot Administration signed contracts with ENI on 26 October 2026 to bring the Kronos field into production. The ministry described this as the latest example of unilateral hydrocarbon activities that disregard the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people over the island's natural resources. It said the Greek Cypriot Administration has no authority to represent Turkish Cypriots or to make decisions about these resources on their behalf.

The ministry called on international companies cooperating with the Greek Cypriot Administration to take into account the political realities on the island and in the region, and to consider the negative consequences of participating in initiatives that violate Turkish Cypriot rights. It reiterated that the TRNC, in full coordination and solidarity with Türkiye, will continue to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people in the Eastern Mediterranean.