The European Union is stepping up its involvement in resolving the long-standing Cyprus conflict, with its special envoy Johannes Hahn holding his first official meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. This move signals Brussels’ renewed commitment to facilitating UN-led negotiations and using EU leverage to push for progress.
Cyprus has made clear that any deepening of EU-Turkey relations must be contingent on tangible advancement in peace talks. Yet Ankara’s insistence on a two-state solution remains the key obstacle, directly contradicting the UN-endorsed framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.
In response, a strategic trilateral axis between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel is taking shape. The three nations are exploring enhanced military cooperation, including joint bases, integrated air defense systems, and expanded presence in the Eastern Mediterranean—a direct counterweight to Turkey’s aggressive “Blue Homeland” doctrine.
Proposals under discussion include establishing a Greek military base in Israel and an Israeli one in Greece (possibly Crete or the southern Peloponnese), a Cypriot air-naval presence in southern Crete, and full air defense integration. Such measures would create mutual strategic depth and enable joint military response capabilities.
The timing is critical. Turkey’s diplomatic isolation is deepening, the US remains firmly supportive of Israel, and the EU appears willing to apply political pressure on Ankara. This trilateral initiative could evolve into the geopolitical shield needed to safeguard stability and deter unilateral actions in the region.
As diplomacy returns to the forefront of the Cyprus issue, strategic alignment on the military front may well define the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean.
