The Democrats’ victory over the Republicans is bringing new developments to the United States. But how does this election result create favorable conditions for further deepening bilateral relations between Cyprus and the U.S.? International relations expert Petros Zarounas assesses the election results and how they might affect Cyprus in an interview with Alphanews.Live.
Mr. Zarounas referred both to U.S. interest in the Cyprus issue and to bilateral relations—two issues that are linked “in a strange way.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Don’t take it personally, Donald
Regarding the Cyprus issue, Mr. Zarounas noted that U.S. interest had been at its “highest level” more than 20 years ago.
For example, he explained, in 2004 “the United States was very interested in the Cyprus issue, and the reason was that they believed its resolution would also make Turkey’s accession to the European Union feasible. And so, at that time, they had appointed a special envoy, Thomas Weston, who took part in drafting the Annan Plan and the processes that led to the referendum on the Annan Plan.”
Since then, as Mr. Zarounas added, U.S. interest began to wane, and the reason was that Turkey was moving toward autonomy, becoming a regional power that more or less does as it pleases, while relying less on the European Union.
“Although it technically retains its status as a candidate country, it knows—and the Europeans know—that it will never join the European Union. Certain specific issues—such as the Customs Union, visas, etc.—are what concern them.”
However, for the U.S., this has led to a “lack of interest” in the Cyprus issue.
As a result, they no longer have an envoy there, nor do they participate in any official or unofficial five-party talks.
“And in general, whenever asked, the ambassadors simply parrot the official position that we want a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as provided for in the United Nations resolutions. This policy is not going to change, as there is no incentive to change it.”
Now, however, a new incentive has emerged, and that is Israel’s security, Mr. Zarunas noted.
Donald Trump had focused on deepening relations with Israel from his first term onward, a baton that Joe Biden took up and which continues during Trump’s current term through the 3+1 cooperation between the U.S., Cyprus, Greece, and Israel, to ensure a strategic dialogue with the United States.
“We have had and continue to have a strategic dialogue with the United States, as well as agreements on training and military education, etc. There are agreements to fund the upgrade of the Andreas Papandreou base in Paphos, the heliport in Mari, etc. “So the United States’ focus is on this.”
And this has now become U.S. national policy, followed by every President, regardless of whether they are a Democrat or a Republican.
Prospects for “Major Non-NATO Allies”
As Mr. Zarounas emphasized, what the election results in Congress bring about is that “the conditions are being created for further deepening these relations by granting Cyprus the status of a non-NATO ally of the United States.”
This refers to the category of “Major Non-NATO Allies,” a category that includes approximately 20 countries which have special relations with the U.S. and enjoy certain privileges, such as symbolic prices for used military equipment.
The inclusion of countries in this group is at the discretion of the U.S., with no third country having a veto, as is the case with NATO, with Mr. Zarouna assessing that Cyprus meets all the criteria for admission.
“I believe that with the new Congress, progress can be made, even though the decision on Cyprus’s inclusion in this group of countries rests with the President.”
However, as he added, Congress can request studies from the Departments of State and Defense to assess whether this would be in the United States’ interest, which could put pressure on the current President or lay the groundwork for the next President to finalize such an admission.
“Simply put, more favorable conditions are now emerging, so that we can go even further and institutionalize this in a much more significant way than it is today. That is what is taking shape: a favorable convergence of circumstances. Whether or not we take advantage of it is up to us.”
