Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and US President-elect Donald Trump pledged to deepen bilateral ties during a phone conversation on Thursday.
President Christodoulides shared a brief post on social media summarizing the “excellent conversation” and underscoring the significance of Cyprus-US relations.
“We will work together to further reinforce our relations for the benefit of our countries [and] the region,” the president wrote on X.
In a written statement, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said that President Christodoulides congratulated Trump on his election victory and emphasized his intention to work closely with the new US administration to deepen the ties between the two nations.
Trump keen to broaden the strategic relationship with Cyprus
The discussion highlighted the significant progress achieved in recent years in areas such as in defense, security, investments, the economy, humanitarian aid, and crisis management in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Both leaders acknowledged the importance of maintaining and expanding this collaboration.
Furthermore, the two leaders expressed their shared goal of broadening and strengthening the strategic relationship between Cyprus and the United States. They emphasized the value of the ongoing Strategic Dialogue, aiming to benefit both nations and contribute positively to the stability and prosperity of the region.
The conversation also touched upon the troubling developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. President Christodoulides reaffirmed Cyprus’s role as a steadfast and reliable partner of the United States in efforts to promote peace, stability, and development in the region.
Strategic dialogue launched
Relations between the US and Cyprus have been elevated in recent months. In October the two nations launched a strategic dialogue in Nicosia, described as a historic moment.
The two countries hope that the strategic dialogue will bolster security and stability in a crisis-wracked region through initiatives including counterterrorism training of personnel from Middle Eastern countries and fighting sanctions evasion.
“It is a big moment in the relationship between our countries and to be part of this feels like being part of an historic occasion,” US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien said at a news conference.
O’Brien pointed to a US-funded center on the island nation under the acronym CYCLOPS that trains personnel from Cyprus and neighboring countries on maritime and cybersecurity as well as counterterrorism techniques.
In September 2024 Cyprus and the US signed a defense cooperation framework agreement outlining how the two countries can respond to regional humanitarian crises and security concerns.
Cyprus issue has been reframed in the US
Geopolitical strategist and Washington insider John Sitilides, told Greek Reporter recently that the Cyprus issue, 50 years after the Turkish invasion and occupation, has been reframed in Washington.
“When people talk about Cyprus in Washington, it’s almost always directly and immediately connected to the Turkish invasion and occupation and what can be done to resolve this issue.
“And now what we have is a whole host of very positive developments that are, in addition to that issue, areas for positive engagement involving security cooperation,” he stated.
Related: What Greece, Cyprus Can Expect From Trump 2.0; Expert Weighs In
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
