The United Kingdom and Cyprus maintain a “strong friendship and a strong partnership based on a long history,” British minister for European affairs Stephen Doughty said after talks with foreign minister Constantinos Kombos.
Speaking following the meeting, Doughty described the discussions as “important”, covering bilateral relations, trade, and shared security concerns amid developments in the wider region.
He said the two countries maintain a “strong dialogue” across multiple sectors, adding that cooperation remains close “given the situation in the wider region”.
Doughty confirmed that both sides exchanged views on a range of foreign policy issues and highlighted “the importance of security” in ongoing cooperation.
He also referred to Cyprus’ EU council presidency, describing it as “important”, and pointed to “increased and very positive cooperation between the UK and the EU” following last year’s summit.
“We are making progress in many areas,” he said, underlining efforts to strengthen post-Brexit engagement between London and Brussels.
Kombos, in a separate statement on X, emphasised the need for sustained diplomatic engagement, stating that “continuous and effective coordination is essential in an increasingly complex and changing geopolitical environment”.
He added that “diplomacy and meaningful dialogue is the only sustainable path to stability.”
The talks also touched on broader bilateral relations, which include trade, tourism, and longstanding cultural links.
Doughty referred to the presence of British visitors on the island, saying it was “great to come to Paphos with so many British tourists”.
The meeting follows recent remarks by President Nikos Christodoulides indicating that Cyprus intends to hold “an open and frank discussion with the British government” regarding the future of the UK sovereign base areas on the island.
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