Nicosia, Cyprus. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos on Tuesday invited United States President Donald Trump to visit Cyprus, saying it would be an opportunity to see the region up close.
Invitation and past US visits
Kombos told Breitbart that Trump would be the first American president to visit Cyprus, noting that previous visits by US officials had reached the level of vice president. He said a presidential visit would be welcome and would allow Trump to see developments in the region and visit a country he described as very friendly to the United States.
Strategic location and business role
In the interview, Kombos acknowledged that Trump is “very busy,” but said that arriving in Cyprus makes clear how close it is to surrounding countries. He described Cyprus as “geopolitically, strategically positioned” and said it has a global reputation as a service centre for setting up businesses.
He said Cyprus can support business activity globally, particularly in nearby markets where it is more difficult to establish businesses, and that Cyprus facilitates access to those markets.
Regional ties and role in solutions
Kombos said Cyprus’ position also involves leveraging what he described as excellent bilateral relations with main players in the region. He said Cyprus “makes sense” and can be part of possible solutions to a number of problems, while adding that it is not “exclusively the solution.”
Religion and support for Christian communities
Kombos highlighted that Cyprus is a Christian country, saying its national profile is attractive to the political mindset in Washington, DC. He said Cyprus cares about Christian populations in nearby countries where they are minorities, citing Syria as an example, and added that the government is financing projects to support these communities.
What do you think a visit by a sitting US president to Cyprus would signal for regional relations?
