Cyprus considering NATO membership - Kathimerini
Photo: President of Nikos Christodoulides (Getty Images)
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides presented a strategic plan for the country's potential integration into NATO during a meeting with US President Joe Biden. The proposal, discussed in the Oval Office, has received a positive response from Washington, according to Kathimerini.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described Cyprus’s plan as a "win-win", emphasizing its potential to enhance regional stability.
Initial discussions on this proposal began with former Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and continued in the summer with Pentagon representatives. The official presentation of the plan on October 30 brought the initiative to a new political level.
After his visit to the US, President Nikos Christodoulides discussed the strategy with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the European Political Community summit in Bucharest.
The key goal of the plan is to strengthen Cyprus' ties with NATO and prepare for possible membership. However, progress depends on resolving the Cyprus conflict and improving EU-Türkiye relations. A breakthrough could grant Türkiye access to European institutions, currently blocked by Cyprus’s veto.
To achieve its ambitious goals, Cyprus has put forward three strategic requests to the United States: a long-term lifting of the arms embargo, expansion of military training programs, and assistance in modernizing its military capabilities. In particular, Nicosia hopes to receive US assistance to expand the Andreas Papandreou base in Paphos, which will allow it to meet NATO standards and deploy US military forces on a permanent basis.
Cyprus occupies a special place among the countries of the European Union: as a full member, it remains outside NATO. This status is due to a complex mix of historical, geopolitical and domestic factors.
One of the key reasons is the ongoing conflict on the island. Since 1974, a part of Cyprus has been under Turkish occupation, which keeps tensions between the two communities high and makes it difficult to implement major foreign policy initiatives. Türkiye views Cyprus's NATO ambitions as a direct threat, given its recognition of only the Turkish Cypriot government in the north.
