Sözen: A Settlement Based on the Will of the Two Leaders Is “Close to Impossible”

Speaking on Kıbrıs Postası TV’s Gündem programme, hosted by Ulaş Barış, Sözen argued that the United States views the Cyprus issue not as a significant matter in itself, but as a problem that could “poison Turkish–Greek relations” within a broader geopolitical landscape.

Sözen said a solution in Cyprus could only come about if regional and global actors create a cooperative environment, emphasising that relying solely on the leaders’ political will is unrealistic.

“Turkey’s Move Toward a Two-Sovereign-State Position Since 2020 Is Not Accidental”

Commenting on the remarks by US Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack, who likened the Cyprus issue to an abscess between Turkey and Greece, Sözen recalled that he had described Cyprus as a “meze on a bigger geopolitical table” in an interview with The Guardian five years ago. He said the conflict has become entangled in major global transformations and can only be resolved within that broader context.

Noting that Turkey’s shift since 2020 toward a two-sovereign-state position was “not accidental,” Sözen said stalemates in negotiations, fatigue from years of fruitless talks and the Greek Cypriot side’s lack of enthusiasm for negotiations, combined with global developments, all paved the way for this stance.

“Barrack’s Statement Shows the US Sees Cyprus as a Problem Poisoning Turkish–Greek Relations”

Sözen argued that the current US administration—distant from traditional diplomacy and conventional statecraft—is attempting to reshape various global regions, and that the Cyprus issue must be interpreted within this framework. He said Barrack’s comments reflect Washington’s view of Cyprus not as a priority issue but as a factor undermining Turkish–Greek relations. The “abscess” metaphor, he added, likely stems from this assessment.

Sözen claimed that American administrations have never produced a tangible, rational plan for Cyprus. However, he suggested that the current period—marked by the Abraham Accords and shifting dynamics across the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East—appears to be laying “stepping stones” for an order preferred by the United States. Washington, he said, wants to ensure the Cyprus issue does not obstruct Turkish–Greek relations or broader regional partnerships.

“A US Call to Settle the Cyprus Issue May Be Coming”

Sözen said he expects that as tensions rise, the United States may urge the parties to resolve the Cyprus issue. If they fail, he said Washington might attempt to impose parameters for a settlement—similar to the 20-point plan floated for Gaza or the 28-point plan discussed for Ukraine.

He stressed that such an approach would likely begin as encouragement toward a settlement based on existing parameters. But if the parties remain unable to agree, and if Washington continues to approach Cyprus through what he described as a “private-sector, realtor, businessman mindset,” more forceful proposals could follow. While not claiming this will certainly happen, he said former US President Donald Trump has “the inclination and capacity” to impose such plans.

“The US Administration Is Not Preoccupied with the ‘Sacred’ Norms of International Law”

Sözen referenced Trump’s meetings with Zelensky in the Oval Office and his attempt to purchase Greenland from Denmark as examples of a US approach that pays little regard to traditional norms of international law, such as territorial integrity and sovereignty. He stressed that such intervention on Cyprus would only occur if the island’s unresolved status continues to “poison the environment” and obstruct US strategic objectives.

“A Solution Driven by the Two Leaders Is Close to Impossible”

Reiterating his earlier remarks, Sözen said he believes it is “close to impossible” for Cyprus to reach a settlement through the will of its two leaders alone. He said he began expressing this view during the Tatar–Christodoulides period and that his opinion has not changed under the Erhürman–Christodoulides pairing.

He underlined that even if all internal issues were resolved, any final agreement would still require the approval of the three guarantor states. A viable solution, he said, could emerge only if regional and global actors work together to create a cooperative climate. He concluded that both internal and external dynamics must operate simultaneously, as neither is sufficient on its own to resolve the Cyprus issue.