On July 15, 1974, the political landscape of Cyprus was dramatically altered when Greek junta-sponsored nationalists perpetrated a coup d'état against President Makarios III. Makarios, who had been in power since Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960, was a proponent of a non-aligned policy and faced opposition from those favoring union with Greece, known as Enosis. The coup was meticulously planned by the National Front, a pro-Greek organization, and was supported by the military junta that was ruling Greece at the time. Troops moved into Nicosia early in the morning, quickly taking control of key government buildings and broadcasting the announcement of Makarios's overthrow.Nikos Sampson, a noted figure in the nationalist movement, was appointed as the new president following the coup. This sudden shift in power escalated tensions across the island, especially with the Turkish Cypriots, who feared for their safety and autonomy. The coup was met with immediate backlash from Turkey, which argued it had the right to intervene to protect its interests and fellow Turkish Cypriots. This resulted in Turkey launching a military invasion of Cyprus later that month, leading to the division of the island into the predominantly Greek south and the Turkish-controlled north, laying the groundwork for the ongoing conflict and division that persists to this day.