Yiannis Ioannou
The NATO debate in Cyprus has always been polarizing. Unlike the real debate on membership in the North Atlantic Alliance—which requires preconditions and an invitation, not just an "application"—this discussion has, over time, been more about political confrontation along the Left-Right axis. This is largely due to the historical context of the Cyprus issue from 1960-2004, where EU membership was seen as a final step in seeking a direction for the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) outside the Cold War East-West divide.
President Christodoulides confirmed the report from *K* that Cyprus is pursuing a threefold approach toward the US. This clearly indicates that even if the RoC does not join NATO—primarily because of Turkey and the unresolved Cyprus issue—Cyprus will eventually align with NATO in some form. This will likely start with the upgrading of the National Guard’s arms program, contingent on the US lifting its embargo and allowing Nicosia access to purchase advanced weapons systems. This stance marks a shift from Christodoulides' pre-election rhetoric, during which NATO was more of a strategic talking point, particularly in Mr. Averof Neophytou’s campaign. Ultimately, Christodoulides will be judged by his ability to deliver on these promises by 2028, especially concerning Cyprus' Euro-Atlantic ambitions, given the recent upgrade in US-Cyprus relations.
AKEL, as expected, has returned to its familiar stance on NATO. Their position is deeply rooted in the Cold War era and remains unchanged, reflecting the broader division within the Greek Left on NATO membership. In post-communist Greece, except for the KKE, which will never be a power party, the left has largely adapted to NATO, moving seamlessly from viewing NATO as a "syndicate" alongside the EEC to embracing it fully, even during PASOK's first term (1981-1985) and again after Syriza’s rise to power in 2015. Meanwhile, other parties like DIKO, EDEK, DIPA, ELAM, and the Ecologists have remained largely silent on the matter.
The NATO debate will likely never be approached purely from a technical or geopolitical perspective. The complexities of NATO membership—particularly in terms of aligning Cyprus’ military with NATO standards and the significant costs involved—will always be overshadowed by the most crucial issue: the Cyprus problem. Depending on whether a resolution, the status quo, or a partition scenario occurs, Cyprus' NATO membership will take on different meanings and implications.
However, the NATO debate will undoubtedly serve as a political tool for parties to rally domestic support and create division. It will likely return to the political agenda as a key issue during the 2026 parliamentary elections, highlighting the polarized nature of our political culture and system.
[This article was translated from its Greek original]
