Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in northern Cyprus on Sunday, ahead of a military parade in the Turkish-controlled region commemorating the 1974 invasion.
Erdogan landed shortly before 5 p.m. local time and is expected to inaugurate a new hospital and road project in partnership with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. Both developments were carried out with support from Turkey.
The parade by the Attila division, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., marks an escalation in symbolic displays of Turkish presence on the island. Erdogan is set to deliver remarks during the event, which officials in the Republic of Cyprus have condemned as provocative.
The visit coincides with ongoing international efforts to revive peace talks between the divided communities of Cyprus.