Cyprus is a member of the United Nations along with most of its agencies as well as the Commonwealth of Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Council of Europe. In addition, the country has signed the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Agreement (MIGA). Cyprus has been a member of the European Union since 2004. In the second half of 2012 and the first half of 2026 it held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Historical non-alignment
Cyprus historically used to follow a non-aligned foreign policy, although it increasingly identifies with the West in its cultural affinities and trade patterns, and maintains close relations with the European Union, Greece, Armenia, Lebanon, Israel and the United States.
The prime originator of Cypriot non-alignment was Archbishop of Cyprus Makarios III, the first President (1960–1977) of the independent republic of Cyprus. Prior to independence, Makarios - by virtue of his post as Archbishop of Cyprus and head of the Cypriot Orthodox Church - was the Greek Cypriot Ethnarch, or de facto leader of the community. A highly influential figure well before independence, he participated in the 1955 Bandung Conference. After independence, Makarios took part in the 1961 founding meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade.
Reasons for this neutrality may lie in the extreme pressures exerted on the infant Republic by its larger neighbours, Turkey and Greece. Intercommunal rivalries and movements for union with Greece or partial union with Turkey may have persuaded Makarios to steer clear of close affiliation with either side. In any case, Cyprus became a high-profile member of the Non-Aligned Movement and retained its membership until its entry into the European Union in 2004. At the non-governmental level, Cyprus has also been a member of the popular extension of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organisation hosting several high-level meetings.
Immediately after the 1974 Greek-sponsored coup d'état and the Turkish invasion, Makarios secured international recognition of his administration as the legitimate government of the whole island. This was disputed only by Turkey, which currently recognizes only the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, established in 1983.
Since the 1974 crisis, the chief aim of the foreign policy of the Republic of Cyprus has been to secure the withdrawal of Turkish forces and the reunification of the island under the most favorable constitutional and territorial settlement possible. This campaign has been pursued primarily through international forums such as the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement, and in recent years through the European Union.
In the 21st century, Cyprus is following a western foreign policy.
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Cyprus maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate123— (suspended)4567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253–54555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172—173—174175176177178179180181182Unknown183Unknown184Unknown185Unknown
Bilateral relations Multilateral Organization Formal Relations BeganNotes See Cyprus in the European UnionCyprus joined the European Union as a full member on 1 May 2004. See Cyprus–NATO relationsCyprus is not a member of NATO.
Africa
Country Formal relations beganNotesSee Algeria–Cyprus relations Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean. Relations are normal.Burundi is represented in Cyprus by its embassy in Geneva. Cyprus is represented in Burundi by its embassy in Doha. Cyprus is represented in Comoros by its embassy in Pretoria.See Cyprus–Egypt relationsCyprus is represented in Swaziland through its High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa. Swaziland is represented in Cyprus through its High Commission in London.Cyprus is represented in Lesotho through its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. Lesotho is represented in Cyprus via parallel accreditation of its embassy in London.See Cyprus–Libya relations Cyprus is represented in Madagascar through its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. Cyprus is represented in Mauritania by its embassy in Tripoli. Mauritania is represented in Cyprus by its embassy in Rome. Cyprus is represented in Mauritius through its High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa. Cyprus is represented in Morocco through its embassy in Lisbon. Portugal. Morocco is represented in Cyprus through its embassy in Athens, Greece.. Cyprus is represented in Namibia through its High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa. Namibia is represented in Cyprus through its High Commission in London, United Kingdom. Cyprus is represented in Seychelles through its embassy in Muscat, Oman. Seychelles is represented in Cyprus through its High Commission in London, United Kingdom. Cyprus has a High Commission in Pretoria. South Africa is represented in Cyprus through its embassy in Athens, Greece.Cyprus is represented in Togo by its embassy in Paris, France.Cyprus is represented in Zambia by its High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa. Zambia is represented in Cyprus by its embassy in Rome, Italy. Both countries have a bilateral agreement on Air Service between both countries.
Americas
Country Formal relations beganNotes Argentina is accredited to Cyprus from its embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. Cyprus is accredited to Argentina from its embassy in Madrid, Spain. Cyprus is represented in Belize through its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico. Cyprus has an embassy in Brasília. Brazil has an embassy in Nicosia.See Canada–Cyprus relations Canada is accredited to Cyprus from its embassy in Athens, Greece. Cyprus has a High Commission in Ottawa. In 2010, both Ministers of Foreign Affairs signed a cooperation agreement regarding tourism and the war on drugs.Cyprus is represented in Guyana by its embassy in Brasília, Brazil.See Cyprus–Mexico relations Mexico is accredited to Cyprus from its embassy in Athens, Greece. Cyprus is represented in Peru through its embassy in Brasília, Brazil. Cyprus is represented in Trinidad and Tobago by its embassy in New York.See Cyprus–United States relations Cyprus has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and a consulate-general in New York City. United States has an embassy in Nicosia.
Asia
Country Formal relations beganNotesSee Armenia–Cyprus relations
Armenia has an embassy in Nicosia. Cyprus has an embassy in Yerevan.See China–Cyprus relations China has an embassy in Nicosia. Cyprus has an embassy in Beijing.See Cyprus–India relations India has a High Commission in Nicosia.Indian high commission in Nicosia See Cyprus–Indonesia relations Cyprus reopened its embassy in Jakarta in October 2023. Indonesia is represented in Cyprus through its embassy in Rome, Italy. Cyprus has an embassy in Tehran.See Cyprus–Israel relations Cyprus has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Israel has an embassy in Nicosia. Cyprus has an embassy in Astana. In 2025, Kazakhstan has announced plans to open an embassy in Nicosia.See Cyprus–Kuwait relationsSee Cyprus–Lebanon relations Cyprus has an embassy in Beirut.Cyprus is represented in the Maldives by its High Commission in New Delhi, India. Cyprus is represented in Mongolia through its embassy in Beijing, China. Mongolia is represented in Cyprus through its embassy in Sofia, BulgariaSee Cyprus–Palestine relationsSee Cyprus–Qatar relations Cyprus is represented in Sri Lanka by its High Commission in New Delhi, India. Sri Lanka is represented in Cyprus by its embassy in Rome, Italy. Both countries have agreed on bilateral treaties in various fields.See Cyprus–Syria relationsBoth countries have a bilateral agreements on Cooperation in the Fields of Public Health and Medical Science. Cyprus is represented in Thailand through its High Commission in New Delhi, India. Thailand is represented in Cyprus through its embassy in Rome, Italy. (suspended)See Cyprus–Turkey relations Turkey does not recognize the government of the Republic of Cyprus, stating that the Republic—as established by the Constitution of 1960—ceased to exist when the intercommunal violence that commenced in December 1963 ended Turkish Cypriot participation in the Cypriot government. The attempted coup in July 1974—engineered by Greek Military Junta—was responded to by Turkey by a full military invasion, which resulted in the northern third of the island being occupied by Turkish military forces. This portion of Cyprus unilaterally declared independence in November 1983 as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which only Turkey recognizes. Turkey refers to the Republic of Cyprus government as the "Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus".See Cyprus–United Arab Emirates relations
Europe
Cyprus' 1990 application for full EU membership caused a storm in the Turkish Cypriot community, which argued that the move required their consent. Following the December 1997 EU Summit decisions on EU enlargement, accession negotiations began 31 March 1998. Cyprus joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. To fulfil its commitment as a member of the European Union, Cyprus withdrew from the Non-Aligned Movement on accession, retaining observer status.
Country Formal relations beganNotesAlbania is represented in Cyprus by its embassy in Athens, Greece. Cyprus is represented in Albania by its embassy in Athens, Greece. Both countries have a number of bilateral agreements.See Austria–Cyprus relations See Bulgaria–Cyprus relations See Croatia–Cyprus relationsSee Cyprus–Czech Republic relations Cyprus has an embassy in Prague. The Czech Republic has an embassy in Nicosia. See Cyprus–Denmark relations
Cyprus has an embassy in Copenhagen. Denmark has an embassy in Nicosia. Cyprus has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Nicosia.See Cyprus–France relations In 2019 it was decided the establishment of a French military marine base on the island.See Cyprus–Germany relations Cyprus has an embassy in Berlin and a consulate-general in Hamburg. Germany has an embassy in Nicosia. See Cyprus–Greece relations Hungary has an embassy in Nicosia.Iceland Cyprus is represented in Iceland by its embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. Iceland is represented in Cyprus by its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. IrelandSee Cyprus–Ireland relations Since 1964, over 9,000 members of the Irish Defence Forces have served in Cyprus without suffering any casualties. Italy has an embassy in Nicosia. Lithuania is represented in Cyprus through its embassy in Athens (Greece). See Cyprus–Malta relationsSee Cyprus–Netherlands relations Cyprus has an embassy in The Hague. The Netherlands have an embassy in Nicosia.See Cyprus–Norway relations
The government in Cyprus considers that "bilateral relations between Cyprus and Norway are excellent in all fields".
Neither country has resident ambassadors. Cyprus is represented in Norway through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, and 2 honorary consulates, one in Oslo and the second in Kristiansand. Norway is represented in Cyprus through its embassy in Athens, Greece, and an honorary consulate in Nicosia. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe. Diplomatic relations were established on 22 March 1963.