Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos met Monday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, aiming to reinforce the island’s fast-growing partnership with the United States and highlight Cyprus’ wider role in regional stability.
The meeting covered the full range of U.S.–Cyprus cooperation, from investments and energy to security and defense, as well as Cyprus’ preparations for its upcoming turn at the helm of the EU Council Presidency in mid-2026. Kombos also briefed Rubio on the state of the Cyprus issue, saying Nicosia is committed to restarting reunification talks that have been frozen for months.
A major part of the discussion focused on the Middle East. Kombos outlined Cyprus’ contribution to humanitarian aid efforts, its support for President Trump’s peace plan, and the island’s logistical role in regional relief operations and future reconstruction in Gaza.
In strengthening ties with Washington, the government is expected to underscore the steps Cyprus has taken over the past two years to align more closely with Western policy. These include tightening anti–money laundering frameworks, expanding anti-trafficking operations, and improving financial transparency, moves that U.S. officials have repeatedly encouraged and welcomed.
The two also discussed the next phase of the “3+1” cooperation mechanism involving Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the United States, which Washington views as a key tool for energy planning and regional security.
Beyond the formal agenda, Nicosia is keen to reopen the conversation on joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. Cyprus has spent the past year preparing the required documentation, but the process stalled amid technical delays and the U.S. government shutdown. The issue remains high on the wish list for Cypriot businesspeople, who say easier travel to the U.S. would be a major boost for both business and tourism.
Kombos’ visit signals Cyprus’ intention to keep pushing for deeper strategic coordination with Washington and to position itself as a dependable regional partner at a time of shifting global dynamics.
