The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, emphasizes the need for the European Union to leverage the renewed interest of U.S. President Donald Trump in the Middle East and to strengthen its relations with Washington by showcasing Cyprus’s role as a bridge to the region, in an interview with the Financial Times.
Mr. Christodoulides notes that the Union must capitalize on Cyprus’s historical and geopolitical ties with the Middle East to enhance cooperation with the United States. “The Middle East is not only important for the EU. For me, it is a point of convergence with Mr. Trump and the U.S.”, he notably states.
The President also mentions that while some European leaders may disagree with President Trump on specific issues, Europe must find ways to collaborate with him. “It doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree. He is the President of the United States. We need to find a way to work together. In our region, he is the leader, and we are seeing positive developments thanks to his leadership.”, he points out meaningfully.
At the same time, referring to Washington’s recent initiatives, the President highlights that President Trump has contributed to de-escalating tensions between Iran and Israel and has brought back into focus the “Abraham Accords,” which have led to the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab states.
Mr. Christodoulides emphasizes that for over a decade there was a perception that the United States had “withdrawn” from the Middle East. However, he says this has changed following President Trump’s return to the White House. He notes that the U.S. President, compared to the EU, “at least shows interest in the region.”
Regarding the Ukrainian issue, Mr. Christodoulides states that increased focus on the Eastern Mediterranean does not mean neglecting Ukraine, which remains a priority for the Union. He even announces a visit to Kyiv and a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on December 4th. “We must be able to engage simultaneously with Ukraine and the Middle East; otherwise, we cannot aspire to be a global power,” he notably remarks.
Finally, speaking about regional cooperation, the President of Cyprus highlights its potential to serve as a conduit between Europe and the Middle East, citing the “Amalthea” plan, which aims to send humanitarian aid to Gaza. As he stated, “The region does not need more joint statements and announcements but tangible projects.” He also referred to plans for constructing an electric cable from Greece to Cyprus as well as projects announced with India that will connect the Middle East with Europe.
CNA
The article by N. Christodoulides in FT: The EU should leverage Trump’s interest in the Middle East – “He is the leader in our region” – Cyprus as a communication bridge first appeared on Philenews.
Source: Philenews
