Greek Cypriot Diplomacy or Strategic Manipulation? Real Motives Behind Kombos' Syria Visit

The recent visit of Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos to Syria has raised more questions than answers. Touted as a diplomatic engagement aimed at fostering regional stability, this move is anything but an innocent goodwill mission.

Rather, it appears to be a calculated maneuver designed to bolster Greek Cypriot geopolitical influence while sidelining the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Türkiye in the Eastern Mediterranean. The timing, the optics, and the deeper implications of this visit warrant a thorough examination.

A New Diplomatic Gambit or a Veiled Political Strategy?

Kombos’s visit to Syria marked the first official engagement between the Greek Cypriot administration and the war-torn country since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024. The Greek Cypriot administration presented the trip as a step towards assisting Syria’s transition to a “new political framework” that respects “territorial integrity and sovereignty.” But can a state that routinely disregards the rights of Turkish Cypriots lecture another about sovereignty and good neighborliness?

It is no secret that the Greek Cypriot leadership has long pursued an exclusionary approach in the Eastern Mediterranean, aligning itself with actors willing to undermine Turkish Cypriot rights. By opening diplomatic channels with Syria at this juncture, it is clear that the Greek Cypriot administration seeks to position itself as a regional power broker. However, their history of unilateralism—whether in gas exploration or international negotiations—casts a shadow over any claimed goodwill.

Economic Ties or Political Leverage?

One of the key topics discussed between Kombos and Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, was economic cooperation. Greek Cypriot businesses have expressed interest in investing in Syria’s post-war reconstruction, with talk of a delegation visiting soon. While investment and trade are natural components of diplomacy, the broader context suggests this is more about cementing influence than fostering mutual prosperity.

By positioning themselves as a key economic partner in Syria’s rebuilding process, the Greek Cypriot administration is ensuring that its regional clout expands at the expense of Turkish Cypriot and Turkish strategic interests. This is a familiar playbook: presenting economic collaboration as a front for deeper geopolitical maneuvering. If this were purely about economic engagement, why exclude the TRNC from the equation?

Türkiye’s Reaction and the Marginalization of the TRNC

Unsurprisingly, Turkish analysts have responded with skepticism, noting that this visit is yet another attempt to undermine Türkiye’s influence in the region. For decades, the Greek Cypriot administration has ignored the TRNC’s existence, sidelining its rights in international discussions. This latest diplomatic foray follows a pattern of excluding Turkish Cypriots from regional developments, be it energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean or security arrangements.

The TRNC’s rightful place in any regional dialogue is non-negotiable. Turkish Cypriots are direct stakeholders in the Eastern Mediterranean and should not be treated as mere spectators in decisions affecting their future. If stability and cooperation are truly the Greek Cypriot administration’s goals, why not engage with the TRNC in good faith?

A Pattern of Diplomatic Hypocrisy

The Greek Cypriot administration's insistence on international law and respect for sovereignty is deeply ironic given its own history. This is the same leadership that rejects power-sharing with Turkish Cypriots, blocks TRNC athletes and students from competing internationally, and unilaterally claims maritime zones without consultation. The same administration that now speaks of “good neighborliness” has consistently undermined diplomatic efforts that would bring equitable solutions to Cyprus.

TCE Conclusion

Kombos’s visit to Syria should not be taken at face value. It is not an altruistic effort to aid a war-torn nation, but a calculated political strategy aimed at further entrenching Greek Cypriot influence while ignoring the TRNC and Türkiye. If peace, stability, and cooperation are truly the goals, then inclusivity—particularly of the TRNC—must be the foundation of any diplomatic engagement in the Eastern Mediterranean.

For the Turkish Cypriots, this is yet another reminder that their rights and interests cannot be safeguarded by waiting for diplomatic goodwill from those who refuse to recognize them. It is time for proactive engagement and stronger international advocacy to ensure that the TRNC is no longer sidelined. The world must see through the diplomatic facades and recognize the real power plays at work in the region.

References
- "Cyprus FM offers conditional help in first visit to Syria," The Tribune, February 21, 2025.
- "The Minister of Foreign Affairs will pay a visit to Syria," Government of Cyprus Press Release, February 20, 2025.
- "Turkish media: Discontent over Cypriot Foreign Minister's visit to Syria," Kathimerini Cyprus, February 21, 2025.
- "Kombos and al-Sharaa discuss possibility of Cyprus business delegation to Syria," Cyprus Business News, February 21, 2025.
- "Foreign minister Kombos visits Syria for first time after Assad regime’s fall," In-Cyprus, February 20, 2025.