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Diplomatic meetings often come wrapped in broad statements about friendship and cooperation. But the first talks between Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and new US Ambassador John Breslow also touched on matters closer to everyday life, from travelling to the United States to energy investment and the expanding air base in Paphos.
Following Tuesday’s meeting at the Presidential Palace, Breslow described the discussion as “wonderful” and said the two countries were working together on a growing number of projects.
“We talked about the great cooperation that the United States and Cyprus have and all the projects that we’re doing,” he said.
The ambassador identified safety, security, and prosperity as key priorities, alongside developments across the Eastern Mediterranean, a region where Cyprus is increasingly positioning itself as a stable partner and a hub for emergency operations.
Will travelling to the US become easier?
According to sources familiar with the meeting, Cyprus’ efforts to join the US Visa Waiver Program were among the issues discussed.
Membership would allow eligible Cypriot passport holders to visit the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without applying for a conventional visa, although electronic travel authorization would still be required.
For Cypriot families, students, and businesspeople who regularly cross the Atlantic, that would mean less paperwork, fewer embassy appointments, and an easier journey. No breakthrough or timetable was announced after Tuesday’s meeting, however, meaning the issue remains a work in progress.
Energy and business also on the table
The two men also discussed energy and the activities of two major American companies in Cyprus, as well as opportunities to deepen trade and security cooperation.
The involvement of US energy companies gives Washington a direct commercial interest in Cyprus’ offshore plans at a time when questions surrounding natural gas, electricity costs, and regional energy links remain high on the local agenda.
For Nicosia, stronger American involvement is not only about attracting investment. It also raises Cyprus’ strategic value in a neighborhood frequently shaken by political and military crises.
A closer look at the Paphos air base
Breslow is expected to visit the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, where US-funded expansion plans have become one of the most visible signs of the closer relationship.
The project is designed to allow the base to receive heavy-lift transport aircraft and provide support during evacuations, natural disasters, and humanitarian emergencies. The US has already contributed €500,000 towards planning and cost assessments, while the overall price has not been made public, according to an [Associated Press report](https://apnews.com/article/16864b09ec8a04731d9ae32e1c2ef0a6).
For some Cypriots, the investment strengthens the island’s ability to help when trouble erupts nearby. Cyprus has repeatedly served as a safe transit point for civilians leaving conflict zones and as a base for delivering humanitarian assistance.
For others, a greater American military presence inevitably raises concerns that the island could be pulled closer to regional conflicts. The government’s stated position is that the upgraded facilities will support humanitarian and emergency missions rather than offensive military operations.
That distinction is likely to remain important as construction moves forward and US-Cyprus security cooperation becomes more visible.
Breslow said he was “extremely happy” to serve as ambassador and looked forward to working with Christodoulides on future initiatives.
The real measure of the relationship, however, will be what follows the warm words: whether Cypriots gain easier access to the United States, whether American investment produces tangible economic benefits, and how the expanding Paphos base is ultimately used.
