# U.S.-Cyprus Security Shift

> Cyprus now a key U.S. security partner after decades of division.
- Title: U.S.-Cyprus Security Shift · Foreign Policy | Shortify
- Summary: Cyprus now a key U.S. security partner after decades of division. Cyprus has become a critical security partner for the U.S., providing defense cooperation…
- Keywords: cyprus, united states, military, nato, turkey, defense, eastern mediterranean, reunification, arms embargo, Foreign Policy
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/11/03/cyprus-united-states-turkey-foreign-policy-security-defense
- Author: Alan Makovsky, Jonah Brody
- Published: 2026-11-05T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: cyprus, united states, security, military, nato, turkey, defense, eastern mediterranean, reunification, arms embargo
## U.S.-Cyprus Relations Shift
Washington has drawn closer to Nicosia as ties with Turkey frayed over the past decade.
## Cyprus as Security Partner
The Republic of Cyprus has positioned itself as a critical security partner for an increasingly receptive United States.
## Bilateral Cooperation Areas
The relationship includes defense, trade, basing, military training, exercises, crisis-response cooperation, and regular strategic dialogue.
## Strategic Location
Cyprus’s location at the intersection of Europe and the Middle East makes it a strategic asset for the U.S.
## Initial Impetus
Cyprus initiated the security relationship shift, not Washington, despite ongoing division.
## Deterrence Against Turkey
The relationship serves as an effective deterrent against Turkish threats, Cyprus’s primary security concern.
## International Status Boost
Deepening ties with the U.S. help boost Cyprus’s international status and provide cover for arms relationships with France and Israel.
## Turkey’s Response
Turkey has watched these developments warily but so far without a forceful response.
## Cyprus’s Division
Since 1974, the ROC has governed only the island’s southern two-thirds while Turkey occupies the northern third.
## Historical Context
Cyprus joined the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961 and remained until joining the EU in 2004, which forced it to abandon formal neutrality.
## Arms Embargo
The U.S. imposed an arms embargo on Cyprus in 1987 due to concerns about Turkish reactions.
## 2013 Political Shift
In 2013, the ROC elected pro-Western Nicos Anastasiades as president, replacing his Moscow-friendly predecessor.
## U.S. Response
By 2014, then-Vice President Joe Biden described the bilateral relationship as a 'strategic partnership'.
## 2018 Bilateral Statement
The U.S. and Cyprus signed a 2018 bilateral statement of intent for future security cooperation.
## 2019 Legislation
The U.S. Congress passed the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act, declaring Cyprus a 'key strategic partner'.
## Joint Exercises
U.S. Navy SEALs and Cypriot naval teams conducted joint maritime counterterrorism training in 2021 and 2024.
## Key takeaway

Cyprus has become a critical security partner for the U.S., providing defense cooperation and strategic deterrence against Turkish threats.