Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday evening that while Turkish Cypriots are in favour of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, Turkey’s leadership does not appear to share the same desire - making a resolution unlikely in the near future.
Speaking at a discussion marking the close of the first day of the Economist Annual Conference in Nicosia, Pompeo, who now serves as Executive Chairman of Impact Investments, offered a broad assessment of US and Western relations with Turkey, regional stability, and the challenges facing the international order.
“The Turkish Cypriots want a solution, but the Turkish leadership does not seem to have the same wish. I suspect we will not easily see a resolution to the Cyprus problem,” Pompeo said, according to a press release from the organisers.
'Complicated relationship' with Turkey
Pompeo described the relationship between the West and Ankara as “complicated,” noting that Western allies have “failed to convince Turkey that it cannot be a NATO member while simultaneously maintaining Russian weapons systems - which it still possesses.”
At the same time, he acknowledged Turkey’s active regional posture, pointing out that it remains “the only country in the area willing to put troops on the ground” in conflict zones such as Syria and Gaza.
“I hope that Turkey will, at some point, become a more European country,” he remarked.
WW3
Despite policy divergences, Pompeo expressed confidence that the transatlantic alliance will remain strong.
“Despite differences in certain areas, there is no doubt the West will stay united. The bad actors in the world make sure of that, as they force us to remain committed to our alliances,” he said.
Turning to the war in Ukraine, Pompeo dismissed fears of a global escalation, saying, “No, we will not have a World War Three.”
He also argued that the perception of Western decline is largely the product of Chinese propaganda, asserting that the United States remains capable of defending its interests without conceding to Beijing.
“The source of the problem in the Middle East,” he added, “is the Iranian regime.”
Broader geopolitical concerns
Addressing instability in other regions, Pompeo said that Russia and China continue to act “freely” in Venezuela, warning that the United States will intervene as necessary to counter their influence.
The former Secretary of State’s remarks come at a time of heightened diplomatic focus on the Eastern Mediterranean, where questions of energy cooperation, security, and Cyprus’s stalled reunification process continue to dominate regional discussions.