Rasıh Reşat: Trump and Bibi Will Decide, not Nikos

 

Let’s be honest. Nikos Christodoulides effectively handed over the decision of whether to enter this war to Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu some time ago. That is why he can no longer credibly say, “Cyprus will not enter this war.” He neither has the authority nor the room to make that decision independently.
When he offered Paphos Airport to the United States, and when he welcomed the Barak missile systems onto the island, he was also transferring the sovereign choice of war or peace. Whether he fully realized it at the time or not, that was part of the package.
From his perspective, I cannot entirely blame him. If I were leading half of a small island facing a regional power like Turkey, perhaps I too would seek protection from bigger brothers. That instinct is understandable.
But there was another path. Without blocking a settlement, without kicking negotiating tables over, without pushing unrealistic demands that stall diplomacy, the larger and comparatively more stable power in the region would already have had a vested interest in protecting the island as part of a broader solution.
Did you watch UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer late last night?
He said, “We are not on the offensive side of this war, but we must be on the defensive side.” And what exactly was hidden inside that so-called “defensive” definition? He suggested that intercepting missiles in the air is not enough — the launch sites themselves may need to be neutralized. You can call that defensive if you like, but it clearly implies striking Iranian territory. He also confirmed that British bases would be available for American and Israeli use.
If you noticed his expression, there was none of Trump’s enthusiasm or eagerness. It looked more like reluctant obligation.
The UK has paid — and continues to pay — the price of aligning itself closely with the United States. Just as Nikos is now beginning to understand the cost of such alignment.
I was speaking with a Greek Cypriot friend recently. As always, the conversation drifted to politics. When we started discussing how Christodoulides governs, he said: “Don’t get me started. Do you really think our side is run by Christodoulides? Our real president is Netanyahu.”
At first I thought that was an exaggeration. Then I asked myself: was it really?
The British Defense Secretary stated that two missiles were launched toward Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot government spokesperson denied it. Interestingly, many commentators chose to rely more on the Greek Cypriot spokesperson than on the British minister.
Then came reports of a drone attack targeting the Akrotiri base. The British proudly announced they had repelled it. Yet there were also claims that the runway sustained damage.
The point is this: Southern Cyprus is now a target.
Al Jazeera carefully uses the phrase “the Greek side of Cyprus.” That distinction offers some comfort. But I have another source of comfort as well — Turkey.
Christodoulides chose to secure a security umbrella not through a negotiated settlement, but by aligning in a way that has turned his country into a potential target and effectively delegated the most fundamental aspect of sovereignty — the decision of war and peace — to others.
That is unfortunate.