Manama, Bahrain. President Nikos Christodoulides inaugurated Cyprus’ new embassy in Manama on Monday, underlining Cyprus’ commitment to strengthening ties with Gulf states. He concluded a two-day official visit to Bahrain at the invitation of the King.
Embassy inauguration and diplomatic presence
Christodoulides opened the new Cypriot embassy in the presence of members of his delegation and senior Bahraini government officials. The Cypriot government said Cyprus is among four EU member states with an embassy in Bahrain, reflecting its determination to reinforce relations with the Gulf region.
Business forum and shared priorities
Speaking at the Cyprus-Bahrain Business Forum, Christodoulides described Bahrain’s role in the Gulf as “distinctive and constructive,” citing moderation, pragmatism, stability and reforms amid regional challenges. He said Bahrain has balanced security with openness and argued that dialogue and diplomacy “remain the strongest tools at our disposal to resolve differences and advance cooperation.”
EU-Gulf engagement and economic cooperation
Christodoulides said Cyprus shares these principles and pursues a similar role, pointing to both countries’ untapped potential based on strategic position, economic dynamism and a role as bridges between regions and markets. He reiterated Cyprus’ priority during its ongoing EU Council Presidency to strengthen EU-Gulf ties, calling Bahrain an “essential partner in materialising this vision.”
He cited Cyprus’ presidency, Bahrain’s 2026 EU-Gulf Cooperation Council chairmanship, and the second EU-GCC Summit as milestones to turn political dialogue, economic cooperation and shared interests into concrete results. Christodoulides also called for deeper Bahrain-Cyprus economic cooperation and new investment opportunities, adding that Bahrain remains a strategic gateway for Cypriot firms expanding into the Gulf and wider Middle East.
What opportunities do you see for deeper Cyprus-Bahrain cooperation in trade and investment?
