Our View: Fifty years for Cyprus to see a western alignment makes sense

It is very reassuring hearing President Nikos Christodoulides speaking with such conviction about Cyprus’ strong relations with the United States, about Cyprus’ position in the West and his commitment to Nato membership in the interview published by Phileleftheros at the weekend. None of his predecessors were prepared to take such a clear stand fearing it [...]

featured-image

It is very reassuring hearing President Nikos Christodoulides speaking with such conviction about Cyprus’ strong relations with the United States, about Cyprus’ position in the West and his commitment to Nato membership in the interview published by Phileleftheros at the weekend. None of his predecessors were prepared to take such a clear stand fearing it would upset Moscow, which supposedly supported the government at the UN as well as being one of the few countries that sold arms to Cyprus. No president was prepared to put at risk these relations and go against public opinion that was overwhelmingly against Nato and the US after decades of anti-West propaganda by Akel and a large section of the media.

Of previous presidents only Glafcos Clerides had a pro-West outlook, but this remained theoretical, no practical steps or initiatives ever being taken to place the country in the Western camp. Christodoulides, to his credit, has changed all this. Perhaps he was assisted by world developments, such as the isolation of Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, but nothing would have changed had he not shown decisiveness and a clear vision in pursuing cooperation with the US and operating as a reliable ally of the West in the case of the war in Gaza.



This could have been seen as subservience to the US and he was accused by the Left of turning Cyprus into a staging post for Western military operations in the region, charges that he dealt with forthrightly in the interview, indicating that these issues were not up for debate. Asked if the Americans would be given bases on Cyprus territory, the president said no but they would be offered facilities. The government had already discussed the upgrading of the Mari naval base and the Andreas Papandreou air base in Paphos with the Americans, who would be sending technocrats to Cyprus next month to offer advice on the structures required.

“Their involvement would be either through technical assistance or financial assistance,” Christodoulides said. Asked if the facilities of these bases would be used only by Western states, the president said if it were for humanitarian purposes other states would also have access. Asked about Nato membership, the president said that if it were possible to join tomorrow, “we would do it.

” But because it was not an option at present Cyprus would make preparations so when conditions were favourable Cyprus could join. Again, there was no mincing of words or an apologetic tone in the president’s responses but a resolve and assertiveness that he does not always show in public discourse. These foreign policy choices were directly linked to the Cyprus problem he said.

“Interest is created in the Cyprus issue because they (Americans) can see that what the Cyprus Republic is doing today, it should be able to do tomorrow as well, through a prospective settlement of the Cyprus problem. They come, inevitably, as our allies in the efforts,” the president told Phileleftheros. It took 50 years for the realisation that by Cyprus joining the Western group of nations, rather than pandering to Moscow, prospects of a Cyprus settlement would improve.

Better late than never..