Diplomatic tensions and Cyprus issue discussions at COP31 summit in Antalya

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides attended the two-day UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, on November 11, 2026. During his arrival, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan notably departed the reception area, leaving UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to welcome President Christodoulides alone. This incident was widely viewed as a display of contempt towards the UN-hosted summit, though the Turkish side claimed it was a diplomatic signal. No trilateral meeting occurred between Christodoulides, Guterres, and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman, who attended the summit as a guest of Turkey rather than a state leader.

On the sidelines of the summit, President Christodoulides held multiple meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Their discussions focused on the Cyprus issue, the Schengen accession process, and the coordination of the upcoming visit of EU Commissioner-designate Raffaele Fitto to Ankara on November 20. Reports indicate that the EU is prepared to link progress in the Turkey-EU customs union to the resumption of negotiations for a Cyprus settlement. Guterres confirmed his intention to facilitate the restart of these talks before the end of his term, emphasizing the regional importance of the climate summit.