Nicosia, Cyprus. The leftist party Akel on Thursday criticised Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos for praising US President Donald Trump and warned the stance could pose risks for Cyprus.
Akel targets Kombos interview comments
Akel said Kombos’ statements of admiration for Trump were “shameful and politically problematic,” referring to remarks made in an interview with Breitbart News published earlier this week.
The party said the Christodoulides government was pursuing a policy of “tethering” Cyprus to the United States and the Trump administration “to the point of subservience,” and said it was disregarding the consequences for Cyprus.
Claims of double standards and broader criticism
Akel said Kombos praised Trump in the interview, describing him as being in a unique position to reshape the world order, and lauded his “decisive” approach to international relations while welcoming him to visit Cyprus.
The party said neither Kombos nor the government appeared perturbed by what it described as Trump’s “incendiary and unlawful actions on the international scene,” or by what it called his discrediting of Europe.
In its statement, Akel accused the Trump administration of undermining the United Nations, demolishing fundamental tenets of international law, invading and attacking sovereign states, being complicit in the genocide in Palestine, coveting the territorial integrity of European states, initiating trade wars on European societies, and praising Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan.
Akel also accused the Christodoulides government of applying double standards on international law, saying its sensitivities over the war in Ukraine did not extend to the United States and Israel. It said “sucking up to Trump” would not honour Cyprus or its dignity and would not deliver the results it said the government imagined.
How should Cyprus balance its foreign policy ties while maintaining adherence to international law?
