Nicosia, Cyprus. Former European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said Cyprus should urgently request accession to Nato, arguing it would strengthen stability as the island faces increased regional security risks. He made the remarks after Cyprus found itself targeted by Iranian-made drones amid a widening regional conflict.
Schinas calls for urgent Nato bid
Schinas proposed what he described as a “next step” to improve stability in southern Europe, saying Cyprus should “request, officially and urgently, the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to Nato,” adding, “this is the moment.”
He said Cyprus is “the only non-Nato member on the frontlines of this geopolitical turmoil.” Schinas noted that Turkey and Greece are Nato members, while Cyprus is not, and said that alongside “the European offer of defence, security, solidarity, and stability,” the current situation represents “an excellent political opportunity” for Cyprus to seek Nato membership.
Schinas added that he did not see who could object to such a move.
Potential effects on regional security and Cyprus problem
Schinas said Cyprus joining Nato would bring the alliance “half an hour away from Beirut” and place it at “the forefront of the geopolitical divide.” He also said Nato membership for Cyprus could provide an opportunity that would “enhance the chances of resolving the Cyprus problem.”
President Christodoulides’ position and constraints
President Nikos Christodoulides said last December that joining Nato “would be a natural development” for Cyprus. He said that if Cyprus could apply and receive a positive response from all member states, it would do so, but acknowledged that with the Cyprus problem unresolved, Turkey would veto a Cypriot application at present.
Christodoulides said Cyprus is working to strengthen its military to bring it up to the level of other Nato members while waiting for political conditions to allow accession. He also said Cyprus “already has a clearly defined foreign policy, with a strong orientation towards the west.”
What impact do you think a Cypriot bid to join Nato would have on regional security?
