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(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)