Nicosia, Cyprus – On Thursday, the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, announced that the nation could pursue NATO membership in the future, contingent upon receiving essential training and equipment from the United States. This move aims to align Cyprus’ armed forces with the standards required by the global military organization. This declaration comes after significant speculation regarding the government’s direction following Christodoulides’ recent meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington. The potential shift marks a departure from Cyprus’ longstanding policy of neutrality, which has been in place since the Cold War, when the nation balanced relations between the United States and Russia.

Despite the possibility of NATO membership, Christodoulides acknowledged that immediate accession is not feasible due to potential objections from Turkey. The Turkish government currently has over 35,000 troops stationed in the northern portion of Cyprus, which is controlled by Turkish Cypriots and is not recognized by the Cypriot government based in the Greek Cypriot south.

While the president did not specify how the government might navigate Turkish objections, he mentioned that the United Nations is preparing for renewed peace discussions between the two sides on the island. The division occurred in 1974 after Turkey’s military intervention, which followed a coup by pro-Greek factions.

Christodoulides expressed the necessity for the Cypriot National Guard to enhance its defense capabilities, emphasizing ongoing discussions with the U.S. He expressed gratitude for the positive responses received from American officials and highlighted the importance of ensuring that Cyprus can effectively utilize opportunities for military modernization. This would eventually lead the nation toward NATO membership once circumstances permit.

He stressed that bolstering the Republic of Cyprus’ deterrent capabilities is critical. The government aims to leverage every opportunity available through partnerships with the United States, NATO, and the European Union. Cyprus’ strategic position—being the nearest EU member to the Middle East, merely 182 kilometers (114 miles) from Beirut—has been a catalyst for plans to enhance military infrastructure. Currently, negotiations are underway with the U.S. regarding upgrades to a significant airbase, as well as discussions with the EU for improvements to a naval facility.

Following his engagement with President Biden, Christodoulides reiterated his government’s commitment to strengthening defense and security ties with the United States. The Andreas Papandreou airbase in southwestern Cyprus is currently hosting a contingent of U.S. Marines, along with several V-22 Osprey aircraft that have been prepositioned for potential evacuation missions from nearby regions, including Lebanon.