By Cansu Ece Gökşin
News
This article explores Cyprus’s evolving strategic position in the context of the escalating Iran–Israel conflict. Though not a party to the conflict, Cyprus has become part of its landscape—a logistical base, a diplomatic passage, and a symbolic space shaped by forces beyond its control. The paper highlights how military infrastructure, energy ambitions, and humanitarian responsibilities intersect with the island’s long-standing neutrality and political divisions, making Cyprus a strategic asset and a point of vulnerability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus is not currently at war. It remains a relatively safe zone amid the escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, with its ports operational and daily life continuing in relative normalcy.
British military bases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, long-standing symbols of Western presence, were quickly reinforced with Typhoon fighter jets and aerial refueling capabilities (Cyprus-Mail, 2025).
When Tel Aviv’s airspace closed, Cyprus became a critical evacuation node. Thousands of Israeli citizens were transported through Larnaca via cruise ships and emergency charters. Shelters were set up, and kosher meals were prepared. The response was efficient but evident. Each arrival further positioned Cyprus as a safe haven and a participant—however reluctantly—in the broader machinery of crisis response (AP News, 2025; Reuters, 2025b).
This visibility has strategic implications. Iranian statements warned against third-party logistical support to Israel, implying that proximity is enough to invite attention. Hezbollah echoed the sentiment. Despite its neutrality, Cyprus had become part of the confrontation’s landscape—its geography was reinterpreted not by maps but by missiles and media (The Guardian, 2025a; SWP Berlin, 2024).
Cyprus’s role in regional energy politics complicates matters. The Aphrodite gas field, in coordination with Israel and Egypt, once represented a cornerstone of the EastMed pipeline—a European alternative to Russian gas. That promise still exists but now competes with growing doubts about security and feasibility. As Chatham House (2025) notes, energy routes that cross-unstable waters do not inspire confidence, regardless of how full the reservoirs may be.
Cyprus had become a platform and a messenger in a larger geopolitical dialogue. SWP Berlin and Chatham House Analysts have described Cyprus as a “hinge state”—a location both used and constrained by its alliances. The term is accurate if incomplete. Cyprus is not just a hinge—it is a point of pressure. Military needs, diplomatic messages, and symbolic meaning converge on the island. It plays an important role in the region but does not have complete control over how that role is used. Its visibility brings both benefits and risks.
This is the core challenge for Cyprus. It supports operations and talks but does not shape the bigger picture. Its importance comes from where it is, not from what it decides. As the Iran–Israel conflict continues, Cyprus stays in the middle—important but limited, visible but not always heard. What happens around it may matter more than what it chooses to do. Its neutrality is recognized in words but often undermined by actions affecting its territory. As the Iran–Israel crisis evolves, Cyprus faces a dilemma familiar to small states in geopolitical hotspots: how to remain relevant without becoming a target and host power without surrendering autonomy. Its burden is not choosing sides but being seen—sometimes too clearly—by all sides simultaneously.
Conclusion
Cyprus now stands at the crucible of modern conflict: its geography and infrastructure provide leverage to global powers and expose it to the unintended consequences of warfare. The island’s contours—military host, humanitarian waypoint, energy gulf, and diplomatic broker—have become increasingly blurred. Strategic relevance is both a privilege and a liability and in the rapidly shifting dynamics of the Iran–Israel escalation, Cyprus finds itself compelled to navigate a precarious middle ground.
References
- AP News. (2025, June 18). Evacuees from Israel and stranded Israelis find shelter and kosher meals in Cyprus. https://apnews.com/article/fc8e78af11d455c36ac0282142acf349
- Chatham House. (2025). Competing visions of international order https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/03/competing-visions-international-order
- Cyprus-Mail. (2025, June 18). More British fighter jets ‘will follow in the coming days to the region. https://cyprus-mail.com
- Reuters. (2025a, June 17). US deploying fighter jets and missile defense to the Eastern Mediterranean. https://www.reuters.com
- Reuters. (2025b, June 18). Israel launches airlift to bring home stranded citizens after Iran strike. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/israel-launches-airlift-bring-home-stranded-citizens-after-iran-strike-2025-06-18/
- Reuters. (2025c, June 15). Cyprus says it has been asked by Iran to convey ‘some messages’ to Israel. https://www.reuters.com
- SWP Berlin. (2024). Turkey in the Black Sea region. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik. https://www.swp-berlin.org/en/publication/turkey-in-the-black-sea-region
- The Guardian. (2025a, June 17). Trump demands Iran’s unconditional surrender – as it happened. https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jun/17/israel-iran-conflict-live-updates
- Times of India. (2025, June 17). India backs Cyprus in its fight against Turkey. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-backs-cyprus-in-its-fight-against-turkiye
