Turkish Cypriot Security Force

The Turkish Cypriot Security Force is the military of Northern Cyprus. It is a combined arms force, with land, air and naval elements. It has 5,000 active personnel, and this force is supplemented by the 40,000 strong Turkish Military Forces in Northern Cyprus stationed on the island.

Even before independence, the Turkish Cypriot community had maintained its own paramilitary force (the Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatı or TMT), trained and equipped by the Turkish Army. In 1967 this force was renamed the Mücahit (fighter), and in 1975 the Mücahit was renamed the Turkish Cypriot Security Force.

The Turkish Cypriot Security Force was commanded by a General officer of the Turkish Army, who had both operational and administrative responsibilities, as well as control over the police force. The commander was responsible to the prime minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ("TRNC") through the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense. A unified military-civilian defense staff of the ministry was responsible for defense policy and strategy.

Although legally separate from the Turkish Army on the island, the Turkish Cypriot Security Force was believed to remain under the de facto operational control of the Turkish forces. It also depended on Turkey for training and equipment. Most of its officers were regular Turkish Army officers on secondment. Observers believed that many of its expenses were absorbed by the Turkish Army.