President Nikos Christodoulides highlighted the potential for collaboration with Croatia on defence after meeting with the country’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in Zagreb on Tuesday.
The two met after attending the MED9 Summit in Slovenia the day before, comprising the nine EU member states sharing a Mediterranean coastline.
Christodoulides’ presence in the Croatian capital marked the first official visit of a Cyprus President in nearly two decades. Speaking after his meeting with Plenković, Christodoulides described bilateral relations as “strong and full of potential for deeper cooperation” in several areas. He referred specifically to the “promising area” of defence, “especially in light of our shared vision to enhance the European Union's strategic autonomy.”
Christodoulides noted that the two countries are also expected to soon sign a Memorandum of Cooperation in Security and Defence, that will provide the framework for a more structured and enhanced collaboration in this field.
He noted that Cyprus and Croatia share a “common vision and priorities” on many of the critical European Union matters that are expected to come up in the first half of 2026, during Cyprus’ EU Presidency.
“We will deal with major and very important issues like the multi-annual financial framework, strengthening the European Union's competitiveness, by reducing bureaucracy and supporting innovation, and effectively, of course, addressing another huge challenge which is migration,” said Christodoulides.
He added that a key priority of the Cypriot EU Presidency will also be advancing the EU’s enlargement agenda, including the Western Balkans, and reinforcing the EU’s relationship with the wider Middle East.
Asked to comment on the planned meeting in Budapest between the Presidents of the USA and Russia, Christodoulides welcomed “any initiative that will end the foreign invasion and occupation of Ukraine”.
He added that for the initiative to have a positive outcome, the Ukrainian President should also be present.