Upvote:-1
The real reason behind the Cypriot War of 1974 was to prevent the (Greek) Cypriot government of Makarios from allowing the USSR to build a military base on the island,
That's highly debatable, looking with 20/20 hindsight. America (in particular) and the UK weren't exactly keen on that possibility, so much is true.
Turkey wasn't going to turn such a golden opportunity away to occupy the island - make that: prevent communism taking over the island. So, if the USA/UK approved of a take over to prevent communism, they were most happy to oblige. They didn't really invade to keep the USSR out, but to get Turkey in.
Quite a few politicians who didn't do exactly as required by the USA or the UK were tarred being communists.
Upvote:3
3% of the island of Cyprus still belongs to the United Kingdom (it is not a lease, as it was never transferred to Cyprus upon independence), within which the largest British military installation outside the mainland U.K. exists. A rival nation's installation on Cyprus could not be more than 50km away from the U.K.'s.
I cannot imagine the Soviet Union taking the risk when it could more easily use its client, Syria, as Russia does now.
There is no reason to believe this is more likely than the historically accepted reason: to prevent the Cypriot coup d'etat from self-annexing the island to Greece.