Diplomatic developments on the Cyprus issue at COP31 in Antalya

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides participated in the COP31 Climate Summit in Antalya, Turkey, on November 11, 2026. The visit was marked by diplomatic friction, as Turkish officials attempted to use the label 'Southern Cyprus' for the Cypriot delegation, a move blocked by European Union intervention. Furthermore, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan notably avoided greeting President Christodoulides during the official welcome, leaving UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to perform the honors alone.

On the sidelines of the summit, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen coordinated with President Christodoulides and UN Secretary-General Guterres regarding the Cyprus issue. It was announced that EU Commissioner-designate Raffaele Fitto will travel to Ankara on November 20 to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The EU intends to propose a resumption of discussions on a customs union with Turkey, provided that negotiations for a settlement to the Cyprus problem are restarted. Secretary-General Guterres expressed his aim to facilitate a return to talks before the end of his term, noting his willingness to arrange a meeting between the relevant leaders.