US Deputy Secretary of State, Michael Rigas, has said that Washington continues to advocate for a peaceful reunification of Cyprus and hopes that the UN “Secretary-General’s meeting in July will contribute to a clear path toward a peaceful and prosperous future for all Cypriots.”
Speaking during the 40th Annual PSEKA Conference taking place in Washington, Rigas also said that the US welcomes the reappointment of María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar as the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy and the appointment of Johannes Hahn as the European Commission’s Special Envoy for Cyprus.
Moreover, the US Deputy Secretary of State noted that “trade and investment are the foundations of the US–Cyprus relationship.”
“In April, we welcomed President Christodoulides to New York, Houston, and Silicon Valley to strengthen bilateral ties. At the same time, American tech companies like IBM, NCR, Microsoft, and Oracle have operated in Cyprus for decades and are now competing to modernize the country’s ICT infrastructure. Cyprus is an attractive market for American tech companies for commercializing research, advancing innovation, and promoting entrepreneurship,” he emphasized.
Rigas added that issues such as digital transformation, harnessing artificial intelligence for development, and tackling cyber threats are vital for both American and Cypriot companies. He noted that General Electric Aerospace is another major player seeing opportunity in Cyprus, partnering with UANCO to develop a regional jet engine repair hub.
“We encourage Cyprus to adopt a foreign direct investment screening mechanism, so that investments align with the interests of the Cypriot people and bring economic benefits without compromising national security. Greece has already enacted such legislation, and we welcome the Cypriot Parliament’s consideration of a similar framework. Companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil, leaders in offshore hydrocarbon development, are also investing in Cyprus,” he stated.
Rigas highlighted that these investments contribute to Europe’s energy security, address threats, and enhance regional economic cooperation. He stressed that “we also look forward to the opportunities offered by the 3+1 framework, which unites the US, the Republic of Cyprus, Greece, and Israel to strengthen economic ties, particularly in energy and investment.”
“Our longstanding position is that resource development in the Eastern Mediterranean must promote cooperation and provide a solid foundation for stable energy security and regional prosperity. The US first joined the trilateral meetings under the Trump Administration and remains committed to advancing this cooperation,” he said.
He also noted that US–Cyprus cooperation extends beyond the bilateral level. A case in point is the CYCLOPS Training Center in Larnaca. “It has trained hundreds of Cypriot officials and thousands from 20 regional countries in border security, non-proliferation, cybersecurity, maritime security, and more,” he noted.
He described the US–Cyprus relationship was described as “strong, strategic, and broadly supported” by both the American public and the diaspora.
According to Rigas, cooperation peaked under President Trump with the signing of the Statement of Intent in 2018, which launched a new cycle of collaboration in key areas such as counterterrorism, maritime security, cybersecurity, and crisis management. Since then, a second five-year defense cooperation roadmap has been signed, and the first U.S.–Cyprus strategic dialogue was inaugurated, further institutionalizing the bilateral relationship.
Rigas noted that US ties with both the Republic of Cyprus and Greece “have never been stronger.”
“From deepening defense cooperation and economic ties to advancing our shared regional interests, our partnership delivers tangible benefits to our citizens and the region,” he said.
Responding to a question from diaspora members on the Trump administration’s stance on the Cyprus issue, Rigas said that “I don’t think we’re going to hear any new policy pronouncement today, but I believe what we want to do is endorse the ongoing processes under the UN Envoy’s auspices and the longstanding US government position to ensure a peaceful resolution to the Cyprus question. We want to ensure that all these issues are resolved through a process that ensures fairness and equity for everyone involved,” he emphasized.
Rigas also addressed US–Greece relations, describing Greece as “a critical part of our approach to the Eastern Mediterranean” and “an indispensable partner and key NATO ally.”
“The United States sees Greece as an indispensable partner and key NATO ally. The two countries are strengthening their common objectives through close cooperation in security, energy, trade, and people-to-people exchanges—and I personally feel I embody these exchanges, having visited Greece many times, especially in recent years. Our joint efforts promote peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Western Balkans, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, and beyond, reinforced by our Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement,” he noted.
PSEKA President Philip Christopher, in his address to the conference, highlighted the long-standing nature of PSEKA’s work, noting that “we’ve been doing this for 51 years,” since the time of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. While many, he said, “might wonder: ‘What do we have to show for it?’,” the essence of the struggle lies in the fact that “the Republic of Cyprus continues to exist — independent, democratic, a member of the United Nations, a member of the European Union, and still fighting.”
He emphasized the progress in diplomatic relations, stating that “U.S. relations with Cyprus and Greece have been elevated to an exceptional level — the highest level they have ever been.”
Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki, who is in Washington for a series of meetings spoke about the Cypriot government’s efforts to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
“In September, we managed to bring the visa rejection rate below 3%, which is a very important criterion—a threshold we didn’t expect to meet. Today’s meeting was very encouraging. Only a few technical issues remain, and we also had some political meetings yesterday, where it was made absolutely clear to us that U.S. policy is to welcome more countries into the Visa Waiver Program, as this helps them be more stable, more secure, and more prosperous. We are working very hard to ensure we make quality progress by the end of the year,” she said.
Piki added that she also met with the Deputy Secretary responsible on these issues, who conveyed a very clear message: “As long as we complete the technical requirements—which is necessary—nothing has changed in US policy,” Piki said.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Washington, Evangelos Savva, referred to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus for over 51 years.
At the same time, he noted that Cyprus is “in the strongest position it has ever been in its history,” as it has been “a full member of the European Union for 20 years” and is recognized as “a strategic partner” of the United States.
He highlighted Nicosia’s increased diplomatic activity, its geopolitical value in the Eastern Mediterranean, and its active partnerships with international energy companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total, and TNI, as well as interest from the UAE and South Korea.
“This is the Cyprus of today,” he said, stressing the country’s ability to develop strategic partnerships despite limited resources and difficulties. “This has kept the Republic of Cyprus on the global agenda and established it as a strong and reliable ally of the world’s great powers,” he added.
Referring to relations with the United States, he emphasized that the scope of bilateral ties has expanded significantly. “Ten years ago, a colleague of mine in Washington would go to the State Department only to discuss the Cyprus issue. Today, I and those who will succeed me have a broad bilateral agenda to discuss—on every issue,” he noted
The US, he said, “views the Republic of Cyprus as a key regional player.”
Savva also acknowledged the contribution of the Cypriot diaspora. “The contribution of the global diaspora is absolutely critical. We know it. We’ve seen it. They’re always there for us, always ready, and remain a vital element of our success,” he said.
He made special mention of PSEKA President Philip Christopher, calling him “the heart and soul of PSEKA.”
Greek Ambassador to the US, Ekaterini Nasika, praised the significance of the 40th Annual PSEKA Conference, calling it “a proof of PSEKA’s creativity and effectiveness,” and emphasized the commitment to “the ongoing effort to reunify Cyprus and to keep the Cyprus issue in the spotlight.”
She acknowledged PSEKA’s contribution in uniting “Greek-American, Cypriot-American, and Hellenic organizations in support of Cyprus,” expressing gratitude to the Federation’s leadership and organizers.
Cyprus and Greece, she noted, view the Cyprus issue as “an unacceptable case of invasion and occupation by Turkish forces and a threat to the international legal order.” She stressed that “part of a ΕU member state’s territory remains occupied and a European capital remains divided.” However, she also highlighted the resilience dimension: “This story also includes resilience, courage, and hope.”
She referred to Cyprus’s progress since joining the EU, noting that it “has developed a strong and resilient economy capable of overcoming multiple crises,” and highlighted the “maritime corridor for humanitarian aid to Gaza,” and the enhancement of “connectivity in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
She emphasized the “strategic partnership with the United States,” making special mention of the defence cooperation roadmap that “has already borne fruit.”
“The growing recognition of Cyprus’s role is also reflected in its strategic partnerships with the United States,” Nasika noted.
She concluded by stressing that “there can be no normalization of Greek–Turkish relations without a solution to the Cyprus issue,” and reiterated the commitment to a “just, comprehensive, and sustainable solution within the framework of the United Nations.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary General announced that an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format will be held at the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva, on March 17-18. The two sides agreed to proceed with a number of initiatives, involving the opening of crossing points, the creation of a Technical Committee on Youth and other initiatives in the buffer zone and throughout the island.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced in early May the appointment of María Angela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus, who is tasked to reengage with the parties in order to work on next steps on the Cyprus issue and advise him. Holguín completed a previous assignment as Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Cyprus from January to July 2024.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holguín.
Also read: The 40th Annual PSEKA Conference begins in Washington DC
Source: CNA
