Sigma Live

Turkey Surprised by "Peace Council": Cyprus at the Same Table

Published January 20, 2026, 12:23

Turkey was surprised by Donald Trump's invitation to both Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nikos Christodoulides to the same "Peace Council". Ankara interprets this move as an attempt by Washington to bring Cyprus to the same negotiating table as Turkey, canceling Turkish influence on the Cyprus issue. The participation of Cyprus is considered unexpected and is linked to the situation in Gaza, as Washington included Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan on the Gaza administrative board, and Erdoğan on the Peace Council, while also inviting the Cypriot President. This suggests that the Cyprus issue is entering the same geopolitical framework, challenging Turkish expectations. Trump's initiative is characterized as a violation of the principle of equality between states, creating a hierarchical structure. Turkey participates in this structure without guarantees, while Cyprus returns to the forefront as a factor complicating the peace effort. This move is seen as undermining Turkey's efforts to maintain exclusive influence on the Cyprus issue and to promote its own interests in the region.