Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos met US Congress leadership in Washington to discuss extending the timeframe for lifting the arms embargo on Cyprus, the island’s role in the Eastern Mediterranean under the IMEC corridor and the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The Foreign Ministry said the contacts at the Capitol, which it described as unprecedented, focused on these issues alongside Cyprus’s geostrategic position and its potential role on the international and regional stage.
Kombos’s visit centred on two main activities: meetings at the Capitol with Congress leadership and committee heads dealing with Cyprus-related issues, and participation in think tank events discussing regional developments and cooperation.
He participated as keynote speaker in 7th Delphi Economic Forum DC events held in Washington on 2-3 February 2026, and at other think tanks including the American Jewish Committee, American Enterprise Institute and Arab Gulf States Institute.
Meetings with committee chairs
The foreign minister met with senators and congressmen from the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Energy/Budget committees.
According to the Foreign Ministry, discussions covered efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between Cyprus and the United States, transatlantic relations, regional and international developments, and the priorities of the Cyprus EU Council Presidency.
Kombos met House Foreign Relations Committee Chair Brian Mast, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Jim Risch and ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, and Senate Energy Budget Committee Chair Jerry Moran, according to his posts on X.
In a video statement after the meetings, Kombos said it was the second time he had visited Congress leadership “and this is particularly important in the effort to strengthen the relationship with the US.”
He said he spoke at events organised by various think tanks, including one dealing with cooperation with Gulf countries.
“The effort is being completed, we are in a very difficult geostrategic and geopolitical situation and the Republic of Cyprus as a reliable partner both to the US, but also as presiding country of the EU Council will continue its own effort to help resolve different issues, which affect us both directly and drastically,” Kombos said.
Presentations on Cyprus role
In his presentations, Kombos outlined the priorities and challenges of the Cyprus EU Council Presidency, the need for dialogue and enhanced EU-US cooperation, and current regional and international developments, according to the ministry.
He presented Cyprus’s role as a pillar of stability and security for the wider Eastern Mediterranean region and as a strategic cooperation hub, and discussed the importance of developing the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC).
Kombos met Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, whom he congratulated on the US-India trade agreement and the EU-India free trade agreement. “Incredible results and effective diplomacy,” Kombos noted.
Committee discussions
In his meeting with Senator Moran, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, they discussed the Cyprus-US partnership, transatlantic priorities and bipartisan engagement for Cyprus in the US Congress, according to the ministry.
During his meeting with Senator Wicker, chair of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, they discussed ways to deepen the Cyprus-US partnership. Kombos said in a post he appreciated “the strong bipartisan Congress support for Cyprus as a US strategic partner, as well as for initiatives promoting the security of both our countries, regional stability and transatlantic cooperation.”
During his meeting with Risch and Shaheen, bilateral cooperation was discussed, according to an X post. There was an exchange of views on Middle East developments and the wider region, and discussion on the transatlantic relationship during the Cyprus EU Council Presidency.
With Mast, they discussed Middle East developments, the Cyprus-US strategic partnership and efforts to strengthen regional peace and stability.
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