Cyprus Accuses Turkey of Jamming Planes Carrying EU Defense Ministers – Politico

The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has officially reported incidents of electronic interference and provocations during the flight of aircraft carrying the defense ministers of Greece, France, and the Netherlands. The European officials were traveling to Nicosia to participate in an informal summit of EU defense ministers. 

According to Victor Papadopoulos, director of the press service of the President of Cyprus, air traffic controllers at Ercan Airport (Timbou), located in the self-proclaimed and Turkish-controlled northern part of the island, illegally interfered with radio communications as the foreign aircraft approached Cyprus. 

The situation surrounding the plane carrying Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias proved to be the most tense, as Turkish fighter jets were observed flying in parallel at a distance within its flight path.

Cypriot authorities have deemed these actions a gross violation of international law and intend to file an official complaint with European Union institutions. The Cypriot defense minister plans to brief EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaia Kallas in detail on the incident and raise the issue at a meeting of the European Council. For their part, officials in Ankara and representatives of Northern Cyprus have categorically rejected all accusations, calling reports of aircraft tailing or airspace violations untrue.

Source: Politico.

As a reminder, Ursula von der Leyen’s plane made an emergency landing in Bulgaria due to GPS malfunctions.

Bulgarian authorities accused Russia of jamming the GPS system of the plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.