Members of Congress and Senators including Nicole Malliotakis, Chris Pappas, Gus Bilirakis, Frank Pallone, Hakeem Jeffries, James Risch, Chuck Schumer, Chris Coons, and Chris Van Hollen, reaffirmed their support for Cyprus, highlighting ongoing legislative initiatives addressing the 40th Annual PSEKA Conference, held at the U.S. Capitol.
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis called for active political participation by the Greek Cypriot diaspora, so that members of Congress can be properly informed on the Cyprus issue.
“It is very, very important that you are here, engaging with members of Congress, educating them about the importance of this issue and the risks still facing Greece, Cyprus, and how Turkey has never been an ally—often acting as an adversary. It is important for all of you to reach out to your representatives and educate them, because as you know, there is a lot of misinformation out there,” she said
She praised figures in the Cypriot American community such as Philip Christopher and the ambassadors of Greece and Cyprus, while also underlining her own legislative initiatives.
“One of the most important pieces of legislation I am working on relates to military cooperation, as well as cybersecurity cooperation between the U.S., Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. This is a unique opportunity for us to work with the Israeli community and act as a unified bloc. I’ve been saying it for some time: Turkey is not only a threat to Greece and Cyprus. It is currently hosting Hamas, has acted against U.S. interests in the war against ISIS, and maintains ties with Russia,” Malliotakis said.
She went on to present her bill, which she leads, noting that it “strengthens this alliance.”
“It includes something very important that Philip pointed out to me over the years—lifting the arms embargo on Cyprus. The bill aims for a permanent lift, but if we can’t achieve that, at least a five-year renewal, which would be a significant step forward,” she stressed
She also referred to recent visits to Greece and Cyprus.
“In April, we traveled to Greece with a delegation of Republican representatives. We had excellent meetings and educational experiences, visited Souda Bay, and we hope to visit Cyprus in the future. My colleague, Alex Schroeder, just returned from Cyprus and had a very positive experience. These types of engagements are important to continue,” Malliotakis also said.
Congressman Chris Pappas in his speech focused on the Turkish invasion and the illegal occupation of northern Cyprus.
“Last year, we commemorated the tragic 50th anniversary of the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Thousands of Greek Cypriots were expelled, cultural and religious monuments destroyed. Families were displaced without even being able to bury their dead,” he pointed out.
Furthermore, Pappas condemned Ankara’s behaviour.
“Fifty years later, Turkey is obstructing reunification and a sustainable peace. That’s why our action through the Hellenic Caucus is critical—we intend to expose this injustice and hold Erdogan accountable for the ongoing violations of the Republic of Cyprus’s sovereignty,” he said
He also referred to the strategic U.S.–Cyprus partnership, saying that “the lifting of the arms embargo, the opposition to selling F-16s and F-35s to Turkey, the strengthening of the 3+1 format, and support for a bizonal, bicommunal solution are key priorities. The U.S.–Cyprus strategic cooperation launched last year is of historic importance. We look forward to deepening it.”
Congressman Frank Pallone referred to his priorities as Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
“The energy bill is very important to me. It focuses on infrastructure integration, the development of critical transportation networks, and security. Cooperation between Israel, the U.S., Greece, and Cyprus has significantly strengthened,” he said.
He added that American lawmakers deeply value Cyprus’s contributions as a reliable ally of the U.S.:
“Whether in assisting during the war in Ukraine or contributing to energy security in light of Russia’s efforts to block access to energy resources for other European countries,” he said
“Everything we do for Cyprus must be bipartisan. I don’t like Donald Trump very much, as you might imagine. But at this moment, we will work with him. And I hope that his administration and Marco Rubio will support our efforts with Cyprus and understand the challenges we continue to face with Turkey,” he finally said.
Congressman Gus Bilirakis on his part underlined that “we are here to encourage Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey to start meaningful negotiations for the reunification of the island and for peace and dignity for all of its citizens. That is our goal.”
He then denounced Turkish tactics saying that “Turkey continues to occupy Cypriot territory, displace citizens, and deny property rights. Even worse, settlers from Turkey now outnumber Turkish Cypriots two to one. We saw it coming. And until Erdogan is held in check, it will continue.”
He stressed that Cyprus is a trusted U.S. partner and reaffirmed his belief in bipartisan cooperation.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, one of the most prominent African American politicians in the U.S., spoke warmly about the Greek American community, emphasizing shared values, the contribution of the diaspora, and the importance of parliamentary democracy. “The Greek and Cypriot community is very hardworking, patriotic, value-driven, community-oriented, and spiritually grounded. That’s a powerful combination,” he noted.
He underlined Congress’s role as the people’s voice saying that “the House of Representatives was designed by the Founding Fathers to be the institution closest to the people. Your values are our values.”
Senator James Risch, Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated during the PSEKA Conference that he sees Cyprus and Greece as critical U.S. allies in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly in light of the conflict in Ukraine, Turkish aggression, and China’s rising influence: “As you know, the U.S. enjoys a deep, long-standing relationship with Greece and Cyprus, grounded in our strong diaspora communities and shared values,” he stressed.
He noted Greece’s post-crisis recovery and defense upgrades, describing it as a model for NATO, noting that “Greece plays a crucial role as a hub in the military supply chain,” he said, predicting an expanded role for Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Greece will serve as a bridge between continents—in trade, energy, and societies. And that would not be possible without the bonds between our peoples,” he said
Greek American organizations note that Senator Risch’s involvement in relevant legislation demonstrates that he views Cyprus as a reliable link in a triad of countries—U.S., Greece, and Cyprus—with shared values and interests.
Senator Risch also emphasized the importance of the diaspora and acknowledged PSEKA and the Greek Cypriot community’s role in advancing the agenda in Congress saying that he looks forward “to continued cooperation with our Greek and Cypriot partners to ensure that these ties continue to flourish.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer spoke with deep emotion, noting: “Greek and Cypriot immigrants work hard, respect the law, and value education. They have contributed greatly to America.”
He also referenced the significance of the Eastern Mediterranean Act. “Cyprus and America have much to offer one another. Security, technology, trade, and culture connect us. Since 2019, with the passage of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act—where many of you played a role—we laid the foundation for 3+1 cooperation. Last year, I met with Cyprus’s Foreign Minister Mr. Kombos and Ambassador Savva to discuss the path forward after the 50th anniversary of the invasion,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to resolving the Cyprus issue. “In the Senate, we are committed to finding a viable, fair, and just solution to address the injustices of Cyprus’s tragic and traumatic past, and to ensure that everyone on the island can live in peace, security, and prosperity. This is something I have always supported. As Democratic Leader, I lead our caucus in support of it. To this end, I support more involvement and negotiations under the guidance of the Secretary-General to advance a solution based on equality and mutual respect. We cannot let this become a frozen conflict. That’s what some people want—just leave it as it is. We must push forward to forge solutions,” he noted
He also expressed full support for U.S.–Cyprus Strategic Cooperation and Cyprus’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program.
In closing, he said that “the ties between our peoples—our shared values and interests—are the foundation of U.S.–Cyprus–Greece relations. As long as we stand united and work together, these relations will grow stronger. Long live Cyprus!”