The Modern Geopolitics of the Cyprus Question

The long-standing Cyprus question is deeply influenced and shaped by the complex political and geostrategic environment of the broader Mediterranean region. In addition, Cyprus is key to European and Western power and influence in the greater Middle East and of increasing interest for energy extraction and transportation to markets. This essay lays out the interests of major regional players, including Europe, the United States, Greece, and Turkey, and their impact on Cyprus. Furthermore, it explains how Cyprus figures in the emerging regional energy extraction and transportation arrangements currently being developed by several actors in the region. The author argues that this multifaceted strategic environment must be taken into account in order to find a sustainable way forward on resolving the Cyprus question.