President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday offered his congratulations to United States President-elect Donald Trump on his victory in Tuesday’s election.
In a post on social media, Christodoulides said he looks forward to “continue working on expanding and reinforcing the strategic partnership between Cyprus and the US and advancing our transatlantic relationship”.
Christodoulides is one of a number of heads of government who have congratulated Trump since it became clear on Wednesday morning that he had been elected.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described Trump’s election as a “historic victory” and said he looks forward to “working with you in the years ahead”, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered her warm congratulations.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was “sure” that relations between her country and the US will “strengthen even further”, while Polish President Andrzej Duda said, “you made it happen”, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban described Trump’s victory as “the biggest comeback in US political history” and “a much-needed victory for the world”.
Christodoulides had expressed fears last week that the US may “step back” from its role in the international community after the election.
“There is always a fear that you could have an America stepping back, a kind of seclusion and isolation. We have seen it in the past,” he said following a meeting with Trump’s soon-to-be predecessor Joe Biden at the White House.
Referring to the ongoing crises in the Middle East, which have spread to Lebanon, just 168 kilometres from Cyprus at its closest point, he said, “that is the main concern, because the region is in turmoil right now. It is extremely dangerous.”
“In a way, there is a vacuum. You do not know in two months what is going to happen. It is a very fragile situation,” he said.
During his meeting with Biden, Christodoulides had said relations between Cyprus and the US are now at a “historical high”, while also highlighting the two countries’ close cooperation on the matters of “defence and security, energy, law enforcement, technology and innovation”.
