(Tracy Bucco)

EUS-201European Geography

James LeighUniversity of Nicosia

Lecture 3

Cyprus – Geostrategic for EU Power Projection

Cyprus, http://earth.esa.int/satelliteimages/172/Cyprus_MER_FR_2P_Orbit_06817_20030620_or.jpg

Cyprus – Geostrategic for EU Power Projection

Lecture Readings

1. Leigh, J. and Vukovic, P. A Geopolitics of Cyprus, forthcoming (watch for handout)

2. Mazis, I. Th. The Mediterranean Geopolitical Structure and the Matter of Resolving the Cyprus Issue in Accordance with the Anan Plan1, Laboratory of Geocultural Analysis, Ionian University, Greece. (see course handouts/notes) also online http://www.geopolitics.gr/PDF/art-imaz-cyprus01en.pdf

PurposeTo consider the geopolitics of Cyprus,

and how this is coveted by the EU,

for the projection of power

into the Middle East.Eurofighter 2000 Typhoon

Fighter: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2247950/posts

Ancient name and ProgenitorIn ancient literature known as:

– Kittim (Kiti still a village near Larnaca)– Chittim

Progenitor of early Greeks (and Aegean isles): Dodanim

Progenitor of Early Cypriots: Kittim

Both Dodanim and Kittim are sons of Javan, of Japheth

Japheth

Javan

Kittim (Cyprus)

Ruins: http://www.insureandgo.com/press/Cyprus_convenient_for_property_purchase_12569.html

Macro-history

• Cyprus has successively been overrun and conquered by foreign powers for their own purposes.

• A small country, strategically located in the Middle East at the bridge of Eurasia and Africa.

Cyprus, http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1598/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1598R-89552.jpg

Europe Asia

Africa

Middle East

Europe and Cyprus• Military campaigns or crusades have been launched by Europe from Cyprus into the

Middle East. In 168 BC Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria was about to attack into Egypt. A Roman fleet from Cyprus cut him off. Defeated and dejected, he returned to Judea.

• Moving forward to the Crusades, history records that crusades were launched from Cyprus into the Middle East. In AD 1171, Saladin, mounted a jihad to recover Jerusalem from the European Christian infidels. In AD 1187, he crushed the European military and Jerusalem fell to the Muslims. This shocked Christendom. The European powers mounted the 3rd crusade – used Cyprus as a supply bridge to support their military campaigns into Israel against Islam.

• Imminent: Cyprus as the European high-tech military outpost, with military bases and hi-tech installations in proximity to the Middle East, will be indispensable, as it so often has been in history. Cyprus is geostrategic as EU expands into the Middle East– To sustain entrenched interests in Jerusalem and Israel as previously in the

Crusades.– To maintain oil imports from the Persian Gulf through three straits: Strait of

Hormuz, Bab el Mandab, The Suez • Events may develop simultaneously to a clash of European Christendom and Middle

East Islam. Cyprus is strategic.

Geography Influences Nations• There are physical and human geographic phenomena• Some of the main physical phenomena:

1. Topography (landforms: mountains, deserts, rivers, seas etc)2. Size (shape and dimensions)3. Location (international relationships: borders, proximity)4. Climate (climate effects on human activity and development)5. Natural resources (trade and industrial development)

Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque: http://www.planetware.com/picture/larnaca-hala-sultan-tekke-cy-cy113.htm

Macro-geographyTerrain• Central Mesaoria Plain with Kyrenia Range (alluvial

limestone) to N: and Troodos Mountains (volcanic, granite) to S

• Highest point: 1,951 m (6,407’), Olympus (Troodos)

Nicosia

Cyprus: http://geology.com/world/satellite-image-of-cyprus.jpg

Topography etc

Port

Port

Radar

Airport

(UN) Airport

Airport

Green LineRadar surveysskies to India

Map: http://www.geographicguide.net/europe/maps-europe/cyprus.htm

Range of Cyprus’ Radar

Persian Gulf

Map, http://kantan-net.main.jp/worldmap/world_map_gif.gif

Up to ~ 3,600 miles (6,000 kms)

to Northern India

Troodos radar golf ball

Limassol Seaport

http://www.aeolos.com/main/data/LimassolPort.jpg

http://www.bamjam.net/Cyprus/troodos.html

Archbishop’s Palace

Wikimedia

Larnaca airport

http://www.estatescyprus.com/the-work-on-world-class-airports-reveals-increased-visitors-numbers/52/

Location: Where is Cyprus?

Europe

N. America

Africa

Asia

S. America

Traditional trade route junction of

Europe, Africa and Asia

Oceania

Size and LocationSize and shape• Island smaller than Connecticut• Less than a million people• Long like a sausageLocation• Europe or Asia (Middle East)?• Far eastern Mediterranean• In Islamic region – (Cyprus and Israel)• European Christian outpost• Island, buffered by water• Microcosm of Christain:Islamic division• Eurofighter maximum combat radius 1400 kms / 850 miles• Much of Middle East out of jetfighter range from Europe, but not from

Cyprus• Midair refueling and aircraft carriers extend the range, needed as much

of Iran out of range of Eurofighter• Regional military bases also extend the reach of Eurofighter• Good sea ports for navy

TehranCyprus

Eurofighter: Maximum combat range

Egypt

Turkey

Saudi Arabia

Iran

Libya

Greece

Iraq

Location – Sea Gates• EU is greatly imports dependant• Without massive levels of imports Europe will die in days or weeks.• Europe import huge amounts of food, fossil fuels, minerals etc • Minerals and fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are vital for economic

development• Europe depends on Islamic Persian Gulf countries for huge 40% of its oil• Vulnerable to chokepoints (sea gates): Suez, Bab el Mandab, Strait of Hormuz –

these are more easily controlled onsite from Cyprus facilities

Cyprus

Suez Canal

Bab el Mandab

Strait of Hormuz

Late 1900s - World Religions

Cyprus

N America

S America

Europe

Africa

Asia

Oceania

“Christian outpost in an Islamic Sea”

Geopolitically strategic

Watchtower, 1990

Fractured Island – Divided CityEU Island state:*Military occupation by EU candidate – Turkey*British (EU) sovereign bases (Part of UK (EU))

Green line

•How will this affect EU:Turkey association?How will Christian:Isamic divide play out?

Christian

IslamicIslamic

Map: http://www.4holidays.gr/cyprus_map.html

Cyprus Climate• Mediterranean climate – hot dry summers, cool moist winters• Natural sunny resource for tourism• Some flying machines don’t work well in extreme heat (e.g. choppers) • Even when very hot, outdoor human activity possible all year round• Fairly good for warfare – except extreme heat ~ 45 C, ~113 F.

Map: http://www.grabovrat.com/mapsViews/mapsViews80.html

Resources: Industries and Products• Few natural resources• Potentially offshore oil?• Tourism (largest) (sunny climate)• Tertiary Education: 6 small universities• Financial services/consulting• Solar energy ~ every house• Handicrafts: lace, baskets, pottery, etc• Printing and publishing• No oil refinery – closed• Cement• Cigarettes• Agriculture/food

– Olive oil– Wine, beer– Barley, wheat, grapes,

Citrus, Potatoes,almonds, walnuts

– Livestock• Chickens• Pigs• dairy/meat

(sheep, goats, cattle)

All industries are too small to be important for the EU

Population structure• Christian:Islamic divide - 78% Greek Orthodox, 18% Suni Moslem (Turkish)• Prospective ageing and declining population (MDC and EU syndrome)• 0-14 yrs 19% (falling)• 15-64 69%• >64 12% (increasing)• Low population growth problem: 0.5%• Life expectancy 78 yrs, M 76, F 80

Declining and ageing population

with low birth rate, low death grate

Macro-historical Context

Let us now place Cyprus within its past so we can better understand the

future.

“The further back we see the further into the future our

vision will be.” (James Leigh)

(Leigh, 2009)

Europe – Roman Empire AD 200

Map: http://www.worldhistory.timemaps.com/roman-empire/AD200.htm

Map: http://www.worldmapsonline.com/islamicconquests.htm

Map: http://www.answers.com/topic/empire-1

Successive Expansion of Ottoman Empire1300 - 1683

Enlarged Europe: 15 + 10 (2004) + 2 (2007)

Map: http://www.321energy.com/editorials/mearns/mearns121307.html

Concluding Observations on Cyprus

• Cyprus is on the edge – a frictioncleavage point in the Middle Eastbetween European Christendom andMiddle East Islam

• Is now a microcosm of theChristian:Islamic divide – EUand Turkey – Cyprus is divided

• Is often taken west and east,sometimes in Christendomsometimes in Islam

• Now functions as an outpost for EUChristendom prospectively against Islam

• Has nothing to offer EU exceptthe vital geostrategic location,proximity to Israel and MiddleEast and Persian Gulf Islamism

• Has the (military) installations (ports, radar, airports)to facilitate EU military campaigns into the Middle East and Persian Gulf regions

Europe: http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/business/profiting-from-eu-market/selling-goods/index_en.htm

(Tracy Bucco)