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Former Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has reignited the discussion surrounding Cyprus' potential NATO membership. In an official statement, Kasoulides emphasizes that, while it may take many years to prepare for membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, Cyprus should, with U.S. assistance, gradually modernize its armaments to meet NATO specifications. He advocates upgrading infrastructure and bases to NATO standards and ensuring personnel training reaches NATO levels. He asserts, "Even if NATO membership never materializes, these efforts will still enhance the combat capabilities of our forces—provided we move beyond mere rhetoric."
Kasoulides responded to AKEL Secretary General Stefanos Stefanou’s concerns about Article 5 of the NATO Statute, which does not apply in conflicts between NATO members. Specifically, he questioned, "Why does Greece remain a NATO member, despite its main threat also coming from Turkey?" He highlighted that during the Imia crisis, NATO did not take sides but instead leveraged its diplomatic mechanisms to defuse tensions.
Kasoulides recalled the protracted process of Cyprus’ EU membership, which took ten years from the initial application. He stressed the differences between the EU—a political organization—and NATO, a military alliance. Comparisons between the two pathways, he argued, are misplaced.
He also referred to Cyprus’ attempt to join the NATO-affiliated Partnership for Peace following President Anastasiades' first election. This effort was abandoned after the U.S. expressed reservations due to the rigid division between Turkey and Cyprus at the time. However, Cyprus has since proven its value as a strategic U.S. partner, particularly in counterterrorism efforts, contrasting sharply with Turkey’s controversial actions, such as barring U.S. troop movements during the Iraq invasion, its ambiguous stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and its support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Kasoulides highlighted specific threats to Cyprus, such as the missile capabilities of Hezbollah, whose leader, Nasrallah, has issued direct threats against the country. He also pointed to the dangers posed by jihadist groups in Syria, with Turkey’s involvement in the Aleppo area underscoring the need for constant vigilance due to geographical proximity.
Kasoulides reiterated his call for Cyprus to adopt NATO standards in weaponry, infrastructure, and personnel training. "Even if NATO membership never happens," he noted, "these upgrades will enhance the quality and combat readiness of our forces."
Finally, Kasoulides proposed that, should progress be made in resolving the Cyprus problem, and if both communities and the guarantor powers agree, Cyprus’ immediate accession to NATO after implementing a solution could eliminate the contentious issue of guarantees. This would allow Cyprus to function as a “normal state.”
