new port needed in Cyprus to serve RAF Akrotiri

[Paddy]

Are you sure you are right? The USA supported the Greek military coup in 1967, which the British (or more accurately Harold Wilson's govt) condemned, as did most European govts. I do not recall the US supporting the Turks when they invaded in 74. They may well have "stood by and done the square root of bugger-all" but that isn't necessarily diplomatic speak for "backed-up".

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/19/a...-calm-how.html

[Mordac]

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/19/a...-calm-how.html

Just confirms what I thought, the US didn't think much of Makarios, but they didn't think much of Turkey either. However, in the context of the cold war, Turkey suddenly had a much louder voice, and Kissinger just "let them get on with it". I just forgot about the "cold war" bit. I was sort of right, but crucially sort of wrong, but you were actually factually right, and you backed it up with facts, so I'll tip my hat.