Cyprus views alleged instructions issued by Turkish Cypriot authorities to aircraft carrying EU ministers as an assertion of authority over airspace that Cyprus claims as its own.

Hem Saroya concludes that the Cyprus conflict remains active, contested, and dangerous, directly impacting Europe's flight path, as demonstrated by the recent incident over the Eastern Mediterranean.

Aircraft transporting European defense ministers to Cyprus on Monday reportedly encountered Turkish fighter jets.

The southern part of Cyprus is controlled by the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, while the northern part is controlled by the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Cypriot officials stated that aircraft carrying the defense ministers of Greece, France, and the Netherlands experienced interference linked to Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus.