Britain and Cyprus reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors during their second annual review of the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in London on Tuesday.
The meeting, initially opened by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, was subsequently chaired by senior officials from both nations.
The two countries pledged continued support for Ukraine against Russian aggression and highlighted their coordination on the Middle East crisis, particularly noting Cyprus’s leadership in establishing a maritime humanitarian corridor to Gaza.
Britain praised Cyprus’s role in civilian evacuation planning through its ESTIA crisis management plan, which has helped allies repatriate their citizens from conflict zones.
Defence cooperation featured prominently in discussions, with officials noting four meetings between defence ministers over the past year. Both nations agreed to upgrade their defence MoU to a broader security agreement, with plans to sign a new General Security Agreement in 2025 to enhance classified information sharing.
On education and culture, the countries welcomed the resolution of visa issues for Cypriot teachers in British community schools. The agreement ensures continued cultural support for the Cypriot diaspora in Britain, which officials noted is the largest worldwide.
Trade discussions focused on expanding cooperation in financial services, energy, technology, artificial intelligence, and healthcare. The nations also agreed to explore reciprocal healthcare arrangements and share expertise in specific medical fields.
Maritime cooperation emphasised seafarer welfare and environmental initiatives, while climate action discussions included plans for dialogue on extreme weather adaptation and clean energy development.
The review also addressed law enforcement collaboration, with both sides agreeing to strengthen efforts against irregular migration, modern slavery, and financial crime.
Britain hosts over 300,000 Cypriot residents, while Cyprus welcomes more than 1.2 million British visitors annually, underscoring the significant people-to-people links between the nations.
Both countries reiterated their support for a settlement to the Cyprus issue within UN parameters, calling for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality.
(information from PIO)
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