US Navy's submarine USS San Juan visits Cyprus sparking Türkiye's anger.

According to information published by the Cypriot government on April 6, 2023, the Los Angeles class submarine USS San Juan has made a port visit in Limassol, Republic of Cyprus, sparking Türkiye's anger.
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Cypriot president visiting the Los Angeles class submarine USS San Juan. (Picture source: Cypriot government)

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has expressed concern about the USS San Juan, a US Navy submarine, anchoring at a Greek Cypriot port, citing a potential threat to the stability of the island.

Cyprus has a history of conflict and tension between its Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. In 1974, a military coup backed by Greece led to a Turkish invasion of the island, resulting in the division of Cyprus into two parts.

The internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus governs the southern part of the island, while the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey.

The USS San Juan is a Los Angeles-class submarine powered by a nuclear reactor. It has a displacement of 5,790 long tons when light and 6,197 long tons when full.

The submarine has a length of 110.3 m, a beam of 10 m, and a draft of 9.4 m. It has a crew complement of 12 officers and 98 men and is equipped with four 21 in torpedo tubes and can launch up to 12 vertical launch Tomahawk missiles.

The TRNC's concerns come amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region, particularly between Turkey and Greece, who are locked in a long-standing dispute over maritime boundaries and energy rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The presence of the USS San Juan at a Greek Cypriot port could be seen as a show of support for Greece, which has been seeking to exert greater control over its territorial waters.