Analisis Hukum Internasional Atas Kedaulatan Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus dalam Statusnya sebagai Negara De Facto

Abstract

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) emerged as a response to the prolonged conflict between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, which escalated into a military intervention by Turkiye in the northern part of Cyprus in 1974. Following its declaration of independence in 1983, TRNC has exercised political control over one-third of the island, yet remains recognized only by Turkiye. The international community’s rejection of its legal status has positioned TRNC in a controversial place within international law. This study examines the sovereignty of TRNC from the perspective of international law, considering its status as a de facto state that has yet to receive the de jure recognition. While TRNC has fulfilled the fundamental criteria of statehood as outlined in the 1933 Montevideo Convention, including a defined territory, a permanent population, an effective government, and the capacity to enter into foreign relations. Formal recognition remains witheld due to several legal and political factors, including United Nations Security Council resolutions, the European Union’s support for the Republic of Cyprus (RoC), and TRNC’s dependence on Turkiye. Employing a normative juridical method with a descriptive-analytical approach, this research finds that the issue of recognition is deeply entangled with international political interests and power dynamics. Nevertheless, opportunities for de jure recognition remain open through strategic diplomacy and evolving international support. This issue illustrates that, in international law, the recognition of a state is influenced not only by legal norms but also by the complex realities of global politics.