The Turkish factor remains a major challenge, with Ankara opposing Western support for Cyprus and pursuing a broader military footprint, while Cyprus seeks resilience and strategic autonomy to deter coercion.

The road ahead for Cyprus centers on modernizing defence, deepening cooperation with Greece, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and potentially Lebanon and Turkey, while pursuing Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status to anchor Cyprus within Euro-Atlantic security structures.

Washington and Brussels view Cyprus as a democratic anchor on NATO’s southeastern flank, with MNNA status framed as the logical step to deepen defense cooperation and expand access to programs.

Cyprus positions itself at the intersection of energy, technology, and security, arguing that strategic flexibility and restraint are essential for regional stability.

Several countries have lifted arms embargoes on Cyprus, signaling a shift from weapons deals to broader strategic integration within Western security architecture in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Cyprus–France Strategic Partnership, signed in December 2025, and high-level engagements such as the UAE president’s visit reinforce Cyprus’s role in Europe’s security architecture and regional energy and infrastructure commitments.

Cyprus is presented as a reliable security enabler, strengthening interoperability with the US and EU to support crisis management and humanitarian operations without militarisation.

Cyprus is becoming embedded in a coherent East Med security ecosystem through formats like the Cyprus–Greece–Israel trilateral, the US 3+1 framework, the East Med Gas Forum, the GSI energy interconnector, and an updated Cyprus–Lebanon EEZ agreement.