The new United States Ambassador to Cyprus, John Breslow, has arrived on the island and is expected to present his credentials to President Nikos Christodoulides in the coming days.
The US Embassy in Cyprus announced Mr Breslow's arrival in a post on X, saying the new ambassador looked forward to presenting his credentials to President Christodoulides.
Breslow, a businessman and former Nebraska State Auditor, was nominated by US President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate on 7 August 2026.
He is the first politically appointed, non-career diplomat to serve as US ambassador to Cyprus.
From Nebraska business to US ambassador
Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Breslow spent most of his professional career in the private sector as owner and chairman of Linweld, an industrial gases and welding equipment company.
He served as Nebraska State Auditor from 1991 to 1999 and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of the state in 1998.
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in April, Mr Breslow described the US-Cyprus relationship as a “lasting friendship” based on cooperation and a commitment to peace.
He said bilateral ties were underpinned by a shared vision for stability and prosperity in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Breslow also highlighted growing security cooperation between the two countries, particularly following the signing of a Statement of Intent on bilateral security cooperation in December 2018 and the passage of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act in 2019.
Security and trade among priorities
The new ambassador stressed Cyprus's strategic importance because of its location at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
He also pointed to cooperation between the two countries in security and education.
Breslow said his first priority would be the safety and security of US citizens in Cyprus, acknowledging the Republic of Cyprus's role in supporting evacuations of American citizens from crisis areas in recent years.
He also pledged to further strengthen trade and investment ties, saying close cooperation between the two countries had increased the confidence of US companies to establish or expand their operations in Cyprus.
Commitment to Cyprus settlement
On the Cyprus problem, Breslow said he would continue to support a Cyprus-led and UN-facilitated effort to reunify the island on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality for all Cypriots.
He said this would be in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Source: CNA
