Herzog visits Cyprus for third time amid Turkey-Israel strain

Politics cyprusIsraelMiddle EastTop News Herzog visits Cyprus for third time amid Turkey-Israel strain Hergok Arthrou Relevant News Herzog visits Cyprus for third time amid Turkey-Israel strain 10 September 2026 Authorities admit major drainage failures across Engomi as residents report persistent flooding 10 September 2026 Erini Loucaides on award-winning fiction, diaspora and the ‘wounded’ Cyprus that shapes her work 10 September 2026 Andreas Bimbishis 10 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrives in Cyprus on Thursday for the third time since taking office, in a visit diplomatic sources say carries particular geopolitical weight at a time when relations between Turkey and Israel are severely strained. According to diplomatic sources who spoke to philenews, Herzog’s choice of Cyprus over any other country at this moment is itself significant and sends multiple messages. The sources also noted that Herzog responded positively to an invitation from his Cypriot counterpart, President Nikos Christodoulides. Herzog is expected at the Presidential Palace shortly before midday, where President Christodoulides will receive him. The two leaders will hold a private meeting followed by a working lunch. No statements are planned afterwards, and Herzog will then leave Cyprus. Each of Herzog’s visits to Cyprus has carried its own significance and symbolism. First visit: assurances to Anastasiades Herzog’s first visit to Cyprus, in March 2022, came as a stopover on his way to Turkey. Shortly after taking office, he had announced a visit to Ankara, but travelled first to Athens and then Nicosia, during Nicos Anastasiades’ presidency in Cyprus. That visit took place while Israel was working to normalise relations with Ankara, and Herzog assured Anastasiades that any rapprochement with Turkey would not come at the expense of Israel’s strategic, close relationship with Cyprus. In his public remarks on March 2, 2022, made just days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Herzog also addressed regional stability, energy and climate change against the backdrop of the fast-moving international situation at the time. A familiar pattern History appears to be repeating itself: Herzog’s Nicosia visit in January 2025 also followed a trilateral summit, in Cairo, on January 9 that year. Today’s trip comes two days after a similar meeting in El Alamein between the leaders of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece. Israel’s efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas were helped along by Cyprus once again in January 2025, when Herzog returned to Nicosia and met the United Arab Emirates’ foreign minister at the Presidential Palace, with Cyprus acting as a channel between the two countries. As philenews reported at the time, Herzog also wanted to discuss the European Union’s potential role on Syria, given that Cyprus had helped prepare an EU working document on the situation and possible next steps for the bloc, as well as hear from Christodoulides what had been discussed with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi the previous day. Christodoulides and bin Zayed, who had previously worked together as foreign ministers, have kept in contact since and cooperated on regional issues including humanitarian aid to Gaza. Bin Zayed was at the Presidential Palace that same day to discuss Syria with Christodoulides, and his near-simultaneous presence there with Herzog gave the two of them the chance for their own conversation, at a moment when Israel and the UAE, having kept their distance during the Gaza war, had begun rebuilding their relationship, a shift the Syria situation also helped bring about. Although their meeting was never officially announced, information at the time indicated that the Israeli hostages then held by Hamas were among the subjects discussed. Christodoulides’ solidarity visit Herzog praised the visit, telling Christodoulides: “I want to congratulate you, Mr President, for being the first world leader to set foot in Israel after this morning’s attack… You show incredible friendship and solidarity and we are grateful. We always remember our friends.” Christodoulides had made the emergency solidarity trip on May 4, 2025, landing at Ben Gurion airport just hours after a Houthi missile attack. In Jerusalem on December 22, 2025, Herzog welcomed Christodoulides to the presidential residence for what was their second meeting to date, telling him ties between the two countries had improved dramatically: “As we face challenges in our region, Cyprus’s role is essential.” Christodoulides said he was satisfied with the strategic cooperation between the two countries, noting that defence, security, energy, trade and tourism were all on the agenda. He pointed to the 186 weekly flights connecting the two countries at the time as evidence of the close ties between the Cypriot and Israeli people. 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