When the European Union loudly proclaims its commitment to sovereignty for others — such as in Ukraine — it is striking how quietly it treats the unresolved occupation of Cyprus. Europe draws borders for others — yet erases its own, since 1974, around 37 % of the island has remained under foreign military control.
Meanwhile, Europe lecterns others on territorial integrity. The contradiction speaks volumes.
Cyprus, Israel and the strategic fault line
It isn’t only about legal norms. Cyprus occupies a strategic position in the eastern Mediterranean, one that is increasingly entwined with the security of Israel. The two nations have deepened military and energy ties: Israel and Cyprus engage in joint military exercises, share airspace/coastal access, and cooperate in energy-corridor infrastructure.
In that light, Europe’s inaction isn’t simply moral—it is also strategic. A divided Cyprus weakens the entire regional security architecture which Israel views as vital. If Brussels fails to uphold Cyprus’ sovereignty, it sends a signal that the rules-based order is selective, and that the strategic alliances around Israel and Cyprus are exposed.
The double standard
Europe applauds Ukraine’s territorial defence, but when it comes to Cyprus — an EU member state — the rhetoric stops short of sustained enforcement.
Europe punishes Russia aggressively for invasion, yet tolerates occupation by Turkey within the bloc’s borders.
Meanwhile, Cyprus and Israel forge stronger ties. Israel values Cyprus not just as a partner but as an operational node.
For Israel, Cyprus is no backwater: it is a forward base, an energy partner (via the subsea cable projects and the Aphrodite gas field) and a corridor of strategic interconnectivity.
Consequences for Europe, Cyprus and Israel
The mismatch between Europe’s stated values and its behaviour undermines its credibility. For Cyprus, the cost is existential: an unresolved occupation and the attendant security vulnerabilities. For Israel, the cost is strategic risk: the regional framework in which it invests becomes destabilised when Europe fails to uphold its end.
EU institutions are meant to act in defence of their member-states’ sovereignty. But when they don’t, the burden of security shifts — not surprisingly toward Israel, Greece and Cyprus. And Europe becomes a bystander, offering rhetoric rather than reinforcement.
What Europe must do
To restore coherence, Europe needs to treat Cyprus with the same seriousness it accords Ukraine:
Apply consistent pressure on Turkey to end the occupation.
Recognise that sovereignty is not optional for EU members.
Support the Cyprus-Israel-Greece trilateral framework as part of a broader security architecture — not merely a diplomatic convenience.
Until Europe resolves Cyprus, its moral high ground remains hollow. And Israel, which built security from necessity, is already acting with that understanding. Europe will have to catch up.
