U.S. and Cyprus deepen strategic and defense ties
U.S. bolsters defense ties with Cyprus, signaling a new era of partnership in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Three armed individuals in camouflage uniforms and tactical gear standing on a ship deck in front of an American flag and an "Assembly Point" sign (Photo via Foreign Policy)
The United States is significantly strengthening its strategic and defense relationship with the Republic of Cyprus, marking a shift from historical policies that viewed the island primarily through the lens of regional tensions. This evolution in diplomacy reflects a move toward treating the nation as a sovereign partner in the Eastern Mediterranean.
U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, speaking at the Cyprus Forum on Sept. 30, 2026, described the current state of bilateral relations as being at an all-time high. In a subsequent interview with the Cyprus News Agency on Oct. 4, 2026, the Ambassador characterized the ongoing defense cooperation as being almost like NATO. Furthermore, the Ambassador indicated that the United States intends to protect Cyprus in the future.
The strategic pivot comes as Washington reevaluates its regional priorities, particularly following a decade of strained relations with Turkey. Analysts Alan Makovsky and Jonah Brody, writing in Foreign Policy on Nov. 3, 2026, noted that the U.S. has increasingly sought to engage directly with Nicosia as a result of these broader geopolitical shifts.
Discussions are currently underway regarding the potential designation of the Republic of Cyprus as a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States. This status, which has been publicly advocated for by former diplomat Euripides L. Evriviades, would align Cyprus with several other nations in the Middle East and North Africa that maintain similar security arrangements with Washington.