The UK & Cyprus

Bilateral Relations

Cyprus and the United Kingdom maintain close bilateral relations, based on historical ties, their legal commitments in line with the Treaty of Establishment and the Treaty of Guarantee and, until recently, through their membership of the European Union. Today, the two countries work closely and effectively on a wide range of issues of shared interest, including as partners in the Commonwealth and at the United Nations.

Since the beginning of 2021, much of the relationship is shaped by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU. There is room, however, for the two countries to further strengthen the relationship bilaterally and maintain the strong bonds of friendship and partnership between them. With both countries aligned with common law and hosting a range of professional services nationally, there is potential for a strong future bilateral cooperation in the areas of financial and legal services, banking, trade, energy, higher education, R&D among other fields. Cyprus is keen to explore mutually beneficial ways of finding solutions to potential problems for the private sector, arising from the new UK-EU trade relationship, given existing robust CY-UK business links.

People to people ties provide significant momentum for the continued development of the bilateral relationship. The Cypriot diaspora in the UK consists of both second and third generation people who have been integrated into British society (British Cypriots, holders of dual citizenship or holders of only British citizenship), as well as a large number of non-British Cypriots. It is estimated that around 300,000 live in the UK. Around 30,000 Cypriots have permanently settled in the UK through the EU Settlement Scheme and another 9,000 are students at UK universities. Additionally, there are vibrant people to people contacts also through tourism, where 50% of all tourists to Cyprus are from the UK, and a significant number of UK nationals chose Cyprus as their retirement home.

The important contribution of British Cypriots in the UK was celebrated in March 2019 at the Celebrating Cyprus Reception hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. At the same occasion, the President of the Republic of Cyprus had an audience with Her Majesty The Queen. Unfortunately, a follow up visit in March 2020 of The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to Cyprus, had to be postponed due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

Common Vision

The UK and Cyprus share a decisive commitment to a rules-based global order and a stable and secure Eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus’ foreign policy priorities of the last few years have focused on enhancing and expanding relations with its immediate neighbours and on building closer ties with the Gulf. Along with Greece, Cyprus has
additionally established Trilateral Mechanisms of cooperation with those neighbours on the basis of a positive agenda and which create synergies that yield tangible results for the benefit of the peoples and the region.

Political developments that previously seemed unlikely have now become possible. Cyprus hosted in April 2021 the Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Greece and Cyprus at the first meeting of its kind since the Abraham Accords. Preparations for setting up a Secretariat for the Trilateral Mechanisms in Cyprus is moving apace, to facilitate monitoring and implementation of political commitments for cooperation in specific fields. Of note is also the first Government-to-Government meeting between Cyprus and Egypt earlier in September. Trilateral meetings of the past year at Head of State level with countries in the immediate region include Jordan, Israel and Egypt. Trilaterals of the past five years at political level also include Lebanon and the Palestinians. In the wider region, Cyprus launched, at the bilateral level, exchanges with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Iraq.

In the fields of security and defence, Cyprus looks forward to continuing the close coordination with the UK in the fight against terrorism. Of importance have been the missions carried out from the British military base of Akrotiri against ISIS/Daesh. In April 2019, Cyprus and the UK signed their first MoU for further advancing their defence and security cooperation, focusing on training, capability development and crisis planning.

The future can be positive, it can be promising, if the two countries continue to work together. The biggest challenge on our hands is the climate crisis. The Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, is already experiencing the effects of extreme weather phenomena and the consequences of desertification. This crisis can be the opportunity for working together ever more closely, to adapt to climate change and halt its worsening progression. Cyprus looks forward to seeking synergies with the UK at the bilateral and the multilateral level, to maintain the collective focus on implementing the Paris goals.

Working for a viable and lasting solution to the Cyprus Problem

The UK has a significant role to play, as a partner to Cyprus, having been involved in developments on the island as a Guarantor power, a Permanent Member of the Security Council where it is the penholder on the situation in Cyprus.

The international community remains committed to finding a solution within the agreed UN framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with political equality as set out in Security Council resolutions, with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international personality in line with Security Council resolutions, in particular Resolution 1251 (1999). The Cyprus Government remains fully committed and engaged on this basis.