Cyprus’s President Nikos Christodoulides has called on Europe to strengthen ties with Washington by aligning more closely with US President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on the Middle East — a move he says is crucial for the EU to maintain its global influence.
As Cyprus prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union in January, Christodoulides argued that the island’s strategic position and relationships across the region make it a natural bridge between Europe and the Middle East, offering Brussels an opportunity to reassert itself on the global stage.
Cyprus: A Bridge Between Europe and the Middle East
Speaking to the Financial Times in Nicosia, Christodoulides said Europe should “find a way to work” with Trump, whose administration has renewed attention on regional diplomacy.
“The [wider Middle East] region is not only important for the EU — for me, the region is a point of convergence with Trump and the US,” he said. “At this moment, we don’t have a clear point of convergence with the US. But in our region, we see positive development because of Trump’s leadership.”
Christodoulides pointed to Cyprus’s geographic proximity and longstanding ties with Arab and North African nations as giving it an outsized diplomatic role within the EU. These connections, he argued, can help Europe navigate complex divisions over issues such as Israel’s war in Gaza, Iran’s regional influence, and the future of Syria’s leadership.
Trump’s Return and Renewed Regional Focus
Trump’s return to office has reshaped dynamics in the Middle East, with Washington once again playing a hands-on role in mediating conflicts and reviving diplomatic frameworks.
Christodoulides credited Trump for attempting to stabilize regional tensions, citing both the Iran-Israel crisis and the conflict in Gaza:
“When the crisis between Iran and Israel broke, it was Trump that solved the problem. Or now with Gaza — he presented a plan, not ideal, but something on the table.”
He also praised Trump’s emphasis on the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states. These accords, he said, continue to shape new avenues of cooperation between Washington and parts of the Arab world.
Balancing Priorities: Ukraine and the Middle East
While shifting focus to the eastern Mediterranean, Christodoulides stressed that this would not mean neglecting Ukraine, which remains central to the EU’s foreign policy agenda following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
“You need to be able to deal with both Ukraine and the Middle East at the same time — otherwise, we cannot aspire to be a global power,” he said.
Christodoulides announced plans to visit President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on December 4, reaffirming Cyprus’s support for Ukraine’s EU accession bid, which he described as essential to maintaining European unity and morale.
“The people in Ukraine are tired — understandably so after so many years — and we must give them a positive message,” he added.
Cyprus’s Divided Legacy and Regional Leverage
Cyprus itself remains divided following Turkey’s 1974 invasion, which led to the creation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Ankara. This longstanding division, Christodoulides said, gives Cypriots a unique understanding of territorial conflict and occupation — and a shared empathy with Ukraine.
He argued that Cyprus’s geographic position and diplomatic ties give the EU leverage that has not been fully utilized.
“For more than a decade, the perception in the region was that the US had withdrawn. That changed with Trump’s return to the White House,” he said. “At least he is interested. If you compare Trump and Europe, we see interest from Trump.”
The Amalthea Plan: Cyprus as a Regional Facilitator
Cyprus’s growing role in regional diplomacy is already visible through initiatives such as the Amalthea Plan — a humanitarian corridor designed to deliver aid from Cyprus to Gaza. The plan, backed by the European Commission, and supported by the United States and United Arab Emirates, highlights Nicosia’s emerging function as a logistics and diplomatic hub for the eastern Mediterranean.
“The message from the region is clear — they don’t need more declarations; they need projects,” Christodoulides said.
He pointed to tangible infrastructure projects, such as the power cable linking Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, and the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, as practical examples of how the EU can translate diplomacy into lasting cooperation.
A Call for Strategic Pragmatism
As Cyprus readies to take on its EU presidency, Christodoulides’s message is one of strategic pragmatism — urging Europe to work with Washington, even amid policy differences, to reassert its relevance in a changing geopolitical landscape.
“He [Trump] is the president of the United States,” Christodoulides said. “It’s not about agreeing or disagreeing — it’s about finding a way to work with him. If Europe wants to remain a global power, we must engage where leadership and action exist.”
For Nicosia, that means positioning Cyprus not only as a bridge between East and West — but as a test case for how Europe can regain strategic footing in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
