The 1974 Greek Junta Coup That Split Cyprus

In July 1974, a coup backed by the Greek military junta overthrew Cyprus's president, Archbishop Makarios III, triggering a Turkish invasion that split the island. This episode examines how the coup unfolded—from the Athens-backed officers of the Greek Cypriot National Guard to the brief presidency of Nikos Sampson—and how Turkey's intervention under Bülent Ecevit led to the partition that persists today. We discuss the roles of the United States, the CIA, and the British sovereign bases, the UN buffer zone, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands. Lucas and Luna trace the deep roots of the Cyprus question, from British colonial rule and the enosis movement to the 1960 constitution and the violent intercommunal clashes. Why did Makarios, the island's most popular leader, face a coup from his own side? And why did the international community fail to prevent the invasion? This episode offers a clear-eyed look at a moment that still shapes Greek-Turkish relations and the island's divided capital, Nicosia.

#1974CyprusCoup #GreekJunta #TurkishInvasion #MakariosIII #NikosSampson #BulentEcevit #Enosis #Nicosia #CyprusProblem #AttilaLine #UNFICYP #BritishSovereignBases #Ecevit #CyprusIndependence1960 #OperationAttila #GreekForeignPolicy #FexingoHistory #History

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo