Secretary of State Anthony Blinken emphasized that the U.S.-Cyprus partnership is growing stronger, deeper, and broader, highlighting Cyprus as an essential player in the region and a valued partner for the United States. This sentiment was echoed during the announcement of a strategic dialogue between the two nations, aimed at enhancing their bilateral relationship.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
The recent signing of a bilateral agreement marks a significant step towards including Cyprus in the U.S. visa waiver program, allowing Cypriot citizens to travel to the United States without prior entry permits. President Nikos Christodoulides expressed great satisfaction with this development, noting that it significantly upgrades and strengthens the strategic relationship between Cyprus and the United States.
Christodoulides highlighted that cooperation will be enhanced in areas such as energy, research and technology, security, trade, and investment opportunities. He also mentioned the intensive work with American authorities to include Cyprus in the visa waiver program, facilitated by a bilateral cooperation agreement for the exchange of travel information.
U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Julie Fisher stated that the strategic dialogue would strengthen ties between the two countries, presenting an opportunity to bring governments, businesses, and people closer together. On behalf of Cyprus, Ambassador Evangelos Savva signed the agreement.
Strategic Dialogue and Regional Cooperation
In his welcoming remarks, Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of this moment in U.S.-Cyprus relations. He pointed out that the first strategic dialogue would take place this fall in Cyprus, underscoring the strengthening, deepening, and broadening of their relationship across various sectors, including trade, science and technology, security, education, and people-to-people ties.
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos reaffirmed the importance of the Cyprus-U.S. relationship and announced the Strategic Dialogue between the two countries. He emphasized that Cyprus is a reliable and predictable partner for the U.S., playing a crucial role in regional solutions.
Energy Cooperation
Foreign Minister Kombos also met with Geoffrey R. Pyatt, Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources and former U.S. Ambassador to Athens. They discussed the full spectrum of the Cyprus-U.S. energy agenda, including eastern Mediterranean energy, offshore gas development, electricity interconnections, and deeper regional integration.
Last Friday, Kombos addressed an event at the United Nations in New York to mark the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (Unficyp). He paid tribute to the courage and sacrifice of UN peacekeepers and highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by the Turkish occupation since 1974.
Kombos condemned recent attacks against Unficyp members and stressed that maintaining an “equal-distance policy” is dangerous. He concluded by asserting that “the UN cannot be intimidated” and must uphold the principles for which peacekeepers sacrificed their lives.
