As Cyprus marks the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of July 20, 1974, many are highlighting the uncanny parallels with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Greek and Cypriot communities question why Turkey got off nearly scot-free after its invasion while Russia is being hit with tough, across-the-board sanctions from the rest of the world.

Unlike Russia and Ukraine, however, both Turkey and Cyprus were and are members of NATO—and the 1974 invasion marked the first time such an incursion had taken place between two member nations.

The United States did impose an arms embargo on both Turkey and Cyprus after the 1974 invasion, but it was lifted on Turkey after just three years by President Jimmy Carter.

No economic sanctions of any kind were levied on fellow NATO member Turkey after its brutal invasion; there was no banning of Turkish airlines’ overflying airspace in Europe or the Americas; no exclusion of Turkish participation in anything akin to the SWIFT financial network, which will deal a crippling blow to Russia’s monetary system and economy.

One is left to wonder why so very few sanctions were levied on Turkey, which as a fellow NATO nation should be held to the highest standards of conduct with another alliance member.

Is it because many Westerners see Cyprus—and perhaps Greece as well—as not truly part of Europe?

https://greekreporter.com/2022/07/20/turkey-cyprus-invasion-ukraine-russia/