How Would Türkiye Respond If Southern Cyprus Asked For NATO Membership?

Could southern Cyprus ever join NATO? The Greek Cypriot leader thinks it might happen, but under the right conditions. The island’s long-running dispute could soon become even more contentious if Nikos Christo-dou-lides’ aspirations come true. But why the sudden turnabout, after decades of a long held policy in the South, to keep the island mostly neutral during the Cold War?

For decades, Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines, with Turks in the north and Greeks in the south. While the Greek Cypriots are part of the European Union, they have remained outside NATO. However, the US lifted its longstanding arms embargo on the island in 2022, a move that has deepened military ties between Southern Cyprus and Washington. During his meeting with Biden last month, Christo-dou-lides reportedly pushed for closer defence co-operation. Now with the Greek Cypriot leader confirming his ambitions to join NATO, what far-reaching implications could that have for the island’s stability and the broader eastern Mediterranean? Is an old geopolitical flashpoint about to be reignited?

Guests:
Dimitris Tsarouhas
Türkiye Director at the Centre for EU Studies at Virginia Tech

Matthew Bryza
Former US Ambassador

Zuhal Mert Uzuner
Marmara University Professor