The government on Tuesday made much of the “strategic ties” between Nicosia and Washington, but offered little in the way of details of what the two countries’ chief diplomats discussed a day earlier.

“The strategic relationship between the two nations is at its highest level,” government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis told media on the island a day after Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos met with his American counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington DC.

The spokesman said the two countries are broadening cooperation on matters of defence, security, energy, regional stability and technocratic coordination – under the ‘strategic dialogue’ between Cyprus and the United States.

Signed in September 2024, the United States-Cyprus Roadmap for Bilateral Defense Cooperation for 2024-2029 establishes a framework for strengthening security and defence ties between the two nations, focusing on enhancing cooperation in areas like humanitarian crises, international military training, joint exercises and improving military interoperability. The roadmap is designed to promote regional stability, security, and prosperity in the eastern Mediterranean.

“The overall imprint of the [Kombos-Rubio] meeting confirms that Cyprus has entered a new phase of international presence and political heft, having a strong voice, clear goals and a strategic orientation,” Letymbiotis went on.

“The Republic of Cyprus continues to operate as a reliable, steadfast and useful European actor, able to contribute to transatlantic cooperation, stability in the eastern Mediterranean and the building of regional synergies with good prospects.”

The spokesman stressed this was the second meeting of the two countries’ top diplomats in the space of 17 months.

In June 2024 Kombos had met with then US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

In late October of the same year, President Nikos Christodoulides – accompanied by Kombos – met then US President Joe Biden at the White House.

According to Letymbiotis, Kombos’ talks with Rubio this week came right after the visits to Washington of the Turkish foreign minister and the leader of Syria.

“Cyprus has proved that it is a state that does not passively monitor developments, but rather is capable of providing added value, it can contribute to shaping regional balances, participating in energy cooperation talks and US foreign policy goals in the region.”

During the meeting at the US Department of State, Kombos and Rubio discussed “the region’s energy future”.

The US government reaffirmed its “principled position” in support of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal settlement of the Cyprus issue.

The two foreign ministers also discussed developments in the Middle East, and how Cyprus can contribute to US President Donald Trump’s reconstruction plan for Gaza.

Asked about Cyprus’ prospective inclusion in the US visa waiver programme, Letymbiotis said only that Cyprus has fulfilled all its obligations.

On Monday, a US State Department readout of the meeting said: “Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos today and discussed advancing transatlantic cooperation during the Republic of Cyprus’ January-June 2026 EU Council Presidency.

“The Secretary thanked Cyprus for its support in promoting regional security and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. The leaders also discussed opportunities to expand energy security and cooperation.”