Cyprus Invites Turkish President Erdogan to Summit Despite Historic Tensions

Cyprus to Invite Erdogan to 2026 EU Summit Despite Decades-Long Rift.

Cyprus announced on Monday it will extend an invitation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend a regional summit during its upcoming presidency of the European Union in 2026 — a notable diplomatic gesture despite the ongoing division of the island since Turkiye’s 1974 invasion.

President Nikos Christodoulides said the summit, scheduled for April 2026, will bring together regional leaders to discuss Middle East affairs. “You can’t change geography — Turkiye will always be a neighboring state to the Republic of Cyprus,” he told reporters in Nicosia. “Mr. Erdogan will, of course, be welcome to this summit to discuss developments in the area.”

Christodoulides had made similar remarks in a British podcast released on Monday. The Turkish presidency has not yet commented on the invitation.

A Symbolic Step Amid Stalled Relations
Cyprus and Turkiye have no formal diplomatic ties. The island was split in 1974 after Turkiye invaded in response to a Greek-backed coup. Today, Ankara continues to support the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a breakaway state recognized only by Turkiye, where thousands of Turkish troops remain stationed.

The internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government represents Cyprus in the EU, but its jurisdiction does not extend beyond the UN-monitored ceasefire line dividing the island. Hosting a Turkish head of state — especially one who has never visited the southern part of Cyprus — would mark an unprecedented and diplomatically sensitive moment. Beyond historical grievances, such a visit could raise logistical and political challenges.

Still, Christodoulides’ invitation signals an effort to open regional dialogue and reduce tensions, even if fundamental disagreements over Cyprus’s status remain unresolved.