Diplomatic activity surrounding the NATO summit in Ankara regarding the Cyprus issue

The NATO summit, held in Ankara on July 7–8, 2026, is serving as a platform for discussions on EU-Turkey relations and the Cyprus issue, despite the latter not being on the official summit agenda. President Nikos Christodoulides of the Republic of Cyprus is in contact with EU leadership, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to ensure that Cyprus' interests are represented. A significant meeting is scheduled between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, European Council President Antonio Costa, and von der Leyen to discuss EU-Turkey relations. While the Cyprus government does not officially participate in NATO, it seeks to link progress in EU-Turkey relations to developments in the Cyprus negotiations. President Christodoulides maintains that there is no pressing deadline for a settlement but advocates for substantive progress as soon as possible. Media reports indicate varying levels of optimism regarding the potential for an informal five-party meeting, though officials have declined to predict the specific outcome of the leadership discussions. The government remains focused on leveraging the European Union's role to facilitate the resumption of peace talks.