The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, is in Paris today, where he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace at 11:00 a.m. The meeting will focus on the signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement, with defence, the economy, and European coordination as its main pillars, at a time when Nicosia is preparing to assume the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026.

According to reports, the two leaders will discuss the priorities of the upcoming Cyprus Presidency, as well as international and regional issues within the framework of common European positions and the need for unity and resilience across the Union. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Government Spokesman Constantine Letybiotis, Deputy Minister of State for European Affairs Marilena Rauna, and other officials will also participate in the delegation.

From “convergence” to “strategic implementation”

The agreement expected to be signed is described as an institutional upgrade of bilateral relations, providing a more structured and operational framework for cooperation. Beyond defence and the economy, the text includes cultural cooperation, innovation, and education, while also aiming for closer coordination on European and international issues.

Today’s signature builds on an existing Cyprus–France defence framework. A defence cooperation agreement, signed in April 2017 and entering into force in August 2020, covers areas such as maritime security, crisis management, training, and collaboration in equipment and defence technologies.

At the same time, the upgrading of the naval base Evangelos Florakis in Mari has sometimes been linked to the potential hosting of larger French warships in the Eastern Mediterranean, giving the partnership a clear practical dimension.

Energy and the French footprint in the EEZ

The economic dimension also has a strong energy component. France’s TotalEnergies, in a joint venture with Italy’s Eni, is active in Cyprus’ Block 6 and has signed an agreement with Cyprus and Egypt to export and exploit natural gas via Egyptian infrastructure, a move that forms part of the broader debate on Europe’s energy security.

TotalEnergies has indicated that a final investment decision on the project could take place in 2026, with gas deliveries expected to begin around 2028–2029. This underlines why Paris views Cyprus not only as a geopolitical partner but also as an energy hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.