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U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has recommended renewing the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another year, until Jan. 31, 2027, while warning that continued military violations and unilateral actions threaten stability along the island’s buffer zone.
In a report to the Security Council covering June 12 to Dec. 15, 2025, Guterres said there were no serious incidents in the buffer zone during the period and noted a “cautious” improvement in the political climate. Increased engagement between the two Cypriot leaders and the assumption of office by new Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman have “rekindled hope” for progress in the long-stalled peace process, he said.
At the same time, Guterres expressed strong concern over a lack of substantive de-escalation and a growing military buildup along ceasefire lines. The report documents 146 military violations by both sides during the period, 112 by Turkish forces and 34 by the Cypriot National Guard, including the construction of surveillance towers, cameras and other unauthorized installations in and around the buffer zone. The U.N. warned these moves could permanently alter the military status quo.
The secretary-general also criticized practices that blur the line between civilian and military activity, such as concealing military positions in civilian structures, and condemned restrictions on UNFICYP’s freedom of movement, particularly in the fenced-off area of Varosha and in Strovilia.
Guterres reiterated the U.N.’s unchanged position on Varosha, calling out the lack of response to Security Council demands to reverse actions taken since the area’s partial opening in 2020. The report said no measures were taken to comply with those resolutions and that U.N. access to the area remains significantly restricted.
Despite the challenges, Guterres said UNFICYP continues to play an essential role in preventing escalation and maintaining stability, though its effectiveness is limited without full cooperation from both sides. He also warned that the mission has been strained by the U.N.’s ongoing liquidity crisis, which led to reduced staffing, fewer patrols and delays or cancellations of intercommunal confidence-building activities.
On the political track, the report highlighted renewed dialogue, including an informal expanded meeting convened by Guterres in New York in July with the two leaders and guarantor powers Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom. In December, the leaders held their first discussion of core political issues in more than five years, agreeing that any settlement should be based on political equality as outlined in U.N. resolutions.
Still, Guterres said the momentum remains fragile and urged both sides to show stronger determination, particularly on opening new crossing points and implementing agreed trust-building measures. He called the current phase “an early but encouraging” opportunity that will require sustained effort to translate into meaningful progress.
