New York, United States. The United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (Unficyp) for one more year, until January 31, 2027. The resolution passed with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions by Pakistan and Somalia.
Vote and resolution language
The resolution reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to a comprehensive and just solution to the Cyprus problem, stating that “the status quo is unsustainable” and warning it carries the risk of “irreversible changes on the ground”.
“The situation on the ground is not static,” the resolution said, adding that the lack of an agreement furthers political tensions and deepens the estrangement of both communities, risking irreversible changes on the ground and reducing the prospects of a settlement.
Negotiations and drafting process
Negotiations showed broad support among council members for the work of Unficyp, but were more complex this year due to diverging views on several key issues.
The United Kingdom, as penholder on Cyprus, circulated the first draft of the resolution on January 16 and convened one round of negotiations on January 21.
After receiving written comments on two revised drafts, the UK placed a third revised draft under a silence procedure on January 28. Pakistan broke the silence, after which other members also submitted comments.
Several members, including Denmark, France, Greece and Latvia, expressed a preference for the version placed under silence. A fourth revised draft was issued on January 29.
Mandate renewal and settlement framework
The adopted resolution renews Unficyp without changes to the mission’s core mandate and tasks as previously outlined in Resolution 2771 (2025).
It reaffirmed the importance of achieving an enduring, comprehensive and just settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in relevant Security Council resolutions.
What do you think the UN Security Council’s warning about “irreversible changes on the ground” means for prospects of a Cyprus settlement?