British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to arrive in Cyprus tonight, Monday, for an official visit as part of his tour of the wider region.
On Tuesday morning, he will meet with President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia. This marks a milestone meeting, as the last time a British Prime Minister visited the island for bilateral talks was 53 years ago, in 1971, when Ted Heath held office.
Agenda of the meeting
Key topics on the agenda for the two leaders include bilateral relations, with a focus on defence and security, education and culture, economy and trade, investments, and energy.
The Cyprus issue
The Cyprus issue and efforts to restart negotiations will also be discussed. President Christodoulides is expected to brief the British Prime Minister on initiatives aimed at resuming official talks, including his meeting in New York with the UN Secretary-General and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in mid-October. For his part, Starmer is expected to reiterate the UK’s continued support for a solution within the existing United Nations framework, based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.
Middle East crisis
The escalating crisis in the Middle East, particularly following recent developments in Syria, is another significant topic. Cyprus and the United Kingdom have closely collaborated in recent years to provide aid to the region. This includes the “Amalthea” maritime corridor initiative, through which international humanitarian aid is sent to Gaza from Cyprus, and the “Estia” plan, which facilitates the organised evacuation of third-country nationals from conflict zones via Cyprus.
As the British side often emphasises, “Cyprus plays a pivotal role in providing humanitarian aid to the region.”
Migration and other global issues
The leaders will also discuss migration, an issue of increasing concern for the UK as daily migratory flows continue to rise. Other topics will include the latest developments in Ukraine, particularly after Donald Trump’s election, and EU-UK relations. Starmer has long expressed his intention to position the UK at the heart of European cooperation, stating his desire to “build closer ties with the continent.” The two leaders are expected to explore ways Cyprus could help strengthen EU-UK relations.
Second meeting between Starmer and Christodoulides
This is the second one-to-one meeting between Starmer and Christodoulides. The two leaders met in London in mid-October, a day before the Cypriot President travelled to New York.
Following the leaders’ meeting, expanded talks between their delegations will take place. The British Prime Minister is also expected to visit the UK sovereign bases on the island.
Photo source: EPA/JASON ALDEN
Source: ANA-MPA
