US President Joe Biden invited his Cypriot counterpart, Nikos Christodoulides, to a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, reflecting Cyprus’s growing importance as a strategic ally.
The last time a Cyprus president was invited to the White House was in 1996 when President Glafkos Clerides met with then-U.S. President Bill Clinton.
A statement issued from the White House reads: “On October 30, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will host President Nikos Christodoulides of the Republic of Cyprus for a bilateral meeting at the White House.
“Building on the successful inaugural U.S.-Republic of Cyprus Strategic Dialogue, launched on October 23, the leaders will discuss a range of global issues, including energy security and cooperation, events in the Middle East, and continued robust support to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
“Acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the island’s division, President Biden will reiterate U.S. support for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality for all Cypriots.”
US-Cyprus strategic dialogue
The meeting comes a few days after the first round of talks on the strategic dialogue between Cyprus and the US in Nicosia this week and a few months after the signing of a defense agreement with the Pentagon.
Last Wednesday, the U.S. and Cyprus launched a strategic dialogue, described as a historic moment.
“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,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien said at a news conference.
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos heralded what he described as an important day for the bilateral relations with the U.S. “We believe there are huge opportunities to take our bilateral relations to the next level and it is on us to transform these opportunities to specific achievements,” he said.
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.
US-Cyprus defense cooperation
In September Cyprus and the U.S. signed a defense cooperation framework agreement outlining how the two countries can respond to regional humanitarian crises and security concerns. The agreement was condemned by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side.
“These steps taken by the U.S. authorities to the detriment of the security of the Turkish Cypriot side, undermine the neutral U.S. position towards the island of Cyprus and make it more difficult to reach a just, lasting and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue,” Ankara said at the time.
Analysts say that Washington’s earlier concerns about Cyprus’s ties with Russia have faded, strengthening trust in Cyprus’s alignment with Western interests.
Nicosia’s cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI – initiated at President Christodoulides’s invitation to tackle corruption and money laundering together – has been especially welcomed, solidifying American confidence in Cyprus’s commitment to Western alliances.
They also point out that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East has underscored Cyprus’s strategic value.
The establishment of a humanitarian corridor – a priority acknowledged by President Biden in his State of the Union address – highlights Cyprus’s untapped potential, with its ports, airbases, and infrastructure providing critical support for evacuations, humanitarian aid, and diplomatic initiatives.
