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After years of diplomatic fatigue and cautious optimism, the Cyprus problem roared back into international focus in 2025, with not one but two expanded UN-led conferences and a flurry of moves that put the island firmly back on the global political map.
The year was marked by renewed momentum on reunification talks, as President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leaders, first Ersin Tatar and later newly elected Tufan Erhürman, agreed to keep dialogue alive under the watchful eye of the United Nations. Expanded meetings in Geneva and New York, both chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, produced modest but tangible steps, including progress on confidence-building measures and renewed commitments to keep talking.
The UN deepened its engagement by appointing Maria Angela Holguin as personal envoy on Cyprus, while the European Union named Johannes Hahn as its own special envoy, a clear signal that Brussels wants a seat at the table. The Security Council also unanimously renewed the UN peacekeeping force’s mandate through January 2026, reinforcing international backing for continued negotiations.
Beyond the Cyprus problem, Nicosia spent 2025 actively building alliances. Cyprus welcomed a steady stream of world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the first Emirati president to visit the island, and European heads of state. A strategic partnership with France was signed, while defense and security cooperation with the United States took a leap forward after Washington opened the door for Cyprus to access key American defense programs and extended the lifting of the arms embargo.
Regional diplomacy was another pillar of the year. Cyprus strengthened trilateral ties with Greece and Egypt, signing cooperation agreements spanning energy, technology, tourism and security, while also pushing ahead on natural gas development in its Exclusive Economic Zone through agreements linked to the Aphrodite field. At the same time, Nicosia positioned itself as a stabilizing player in the Eastern Mediterranean, from Gaza humanitarian efforts to talks on Syria’s future.
All this unfolded as Cyprus prepared for a major milestone: taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026. President Christodoulides spent much of the year touring EU capitals and candidate countries, pitching Cyprus as a reliable bridge between Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
The year wasn’t without tension. Security concerns sharpened amid regional conflict, prompting emergency meetings of the National Security Council. The government also stepped up international pressure over the detention of Greek Cypriots in the occupied north, while continuing diplomatic outreach to Ankara, including a rare exchange between Christodoulides and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a European summit.
By year’s end, the message from Nicosia was cautious but clear. “There is a window of hope,” Christodoulides said, insisting that the decades-old division is not untouchable. With new envoys, fresh talks planned and the EU more visibly engaged, 2025 closed as one of the most diplomatically active years for Cyprus in decades, and one that may shape what comes next.
*With information from CNA
