The Presidents of Cyprus and Lebanon have signed an important agreement about their sea borders. This issue had been stuck for almost twenty years. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun signed the deal in Beirut. It is the result of 18 years of long and difficult talks. This agreement is expected to change the political situation in the region.
President Christodoulides called the agreement a "very important step." The Cypriot government sees it as a big diplomatic success. They said it was the result of very hard work. The agreement creates a clear legal border in the sea. Many people see this as a direct answer to Turkey's own claims in the area. Sources say the deal was finally possible because political interference and Turkish pressure on Lebanon stopped.
As expected, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader criticized the agreement. In response, President Christodoulides said that these criticisms will not change Cyprus's plans. He said that Cyprus, as a member of the UN and EU, makes sea agreements based on international law. Cyprus has now officially asked Turkey to start direct talks to define their sea borders using the same laws.
This agreement is important for more than just the two countries. It could help make similar sea border agreements with Syria in the future. Cyprus and Lebanon have also agreed to talk about working together to use any oil or gas they find under the sea. They are also making plans to connect their electricity systems and have asked the World Bank for a study.
Looking forward, Cyprus plans to use its upcoming EU presidency in 2026 to build stronger regional relationships. Despite this success, the Cypriot President said that solving the long-standing Cyprus problem remains a priority. He is ready to restart UN-led talks and believes a solution can be found "relatively quickly" if everyone has the political will.