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NATO and European Union officials are expressing concern ahead of Cyprus taking over the rotating presidency of the EU Council in January, amid fears that long-standing tensions with Turkey could complicate Europe’s defense agenda at a critical moment.
The unease centers on Cyprus’ fraught relationship with Turkey and its alignment with Greece in blocking deeper EU-Turkey defense cooperation. Diplomats worry that Nicosia’s stance could hinder initiatives tied to the EU’s €150 billion SAFE defense procurement program and broader efforts to strengthen EU-NATO coordination, especially as defense has become a top EU priority following Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Cyprus, a neutral country of about 1.3 million people, is divided between the internationally recognized government of the Republic of Cyprus and a de facto self-declared state in the north, backed by Turkish troops and recognized only by Ankara. This division underpins ongoing disputes that affect NATO and EU defense cooperation.
President Nikos Christodoulides has said Cyprus aims to improve relations by urging Turkey to allow its participation in NATO’s Partnership for Peace, a move he described as a first step toward eventual NATO membership. In exchange, Cyprus would gradually lift objections to closer EU-Turkey cooperation.
During its six-month presidency, Cyprus will chair EU ministerial meetings and oversee key defense files, including approval of national SAFE implementation plans and negotiations with the European Parliament on proposals to cut red tape for defense firms.
Cypriot officials say defense, security and support for Ukraine will be top priorities. However, diplomats caution that ongoing Cyprus-Turkey hostility could undermine EU unity and weaken defense ties with Ankara, which has NATO’s second-largest military and a defense industry closely aligned with NATO standards.
Greece and Cyprus currently block Turkey from joining the European Defence Agency, prompting Ankara to restrict NATO’s sharing of classified information with the agency. Any Turkish participation in SAFE projects would also require unanimous approval by EU member states, which Athens and Nicosia oppose, citing Turkey’s military presence in northern Cyprus.
Turkish officials remain pessimistic, warning that EU and NATO accession-related progress involving Turkey is likely to remain stalled during Cyprus’ presidency.
With information from 24news.
