Power link strains Greek-Cypriot relations

A months-long frost connected a planned energy interconnection betwixt Greece and Cyprus has escalated into a nationalist rift, shifting from a constituent of tension with Ankara to a near-open quality betwixt Athens and Nicosia.

The ambiance betwixt the two capitals has soured aft Cyprus Finance Minister Makis Keravnos questioned the project’s viability and formed uncertainty connected a bilateral backing agreement. Though some governments person sought to downplay the spat publicly, officials privately picture precocious tensions arsenic the task stalls.

Cyprus is present seen to beryllium stepping backmost from its committedness to concern a stock of the costs, leaving Greece to enarthrosis the project’s fiscal load and its geopolitical risks, peculiarly Ankara’s objections. The Cypriot presumption efficaciously transfers work for pushing guardant the interconnection wholly to Athens.

Greece, meanwhile, has spent important diplomatic superior lobbying the European Union and cardinal partners, including France and Italy, to unafraid support for the high-profile vigor project. Officials accidental these efforts person brought small tangible instrumentality and person analyzable home authorities successful Athens, which framed the program arsenic a strategic step toward determination vigor security.

Adding to Greek frustration, Cypriot authorities reportedly withheld economical studies that questioned the project’s fiscal feasibility. Despite his criticism, Keravnos has remained successful office, challenging an statement signed by some states.

Greek officials, however, judge Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides is unlikely to formally cancel the project, arsenic Nicosia has already committed itself to the EU. Backing distant would hazard reputational harm for Cyprus, leaving Greece to negociate fallout successful Brussels while preserving its ain credibility.

The quality reflects deeper strains betwixt two adjacent allies whose practice is often shaped by determination vigor ambitions and tensions with Turkey. For Greece, the interconnection remains a symbol of vigor integration and geopolitical leverage, while Cyprus’ retreat underscores increasing caution implicit costs and feasibility.

Diplomatic sources accidental Athens is continuing efforts to salvage EU support and unafraid determination backing. The project’s fate, they add, will awesome whether Greece and Cyprus tin navigate competing nationalist priorities while presenting a united beforehand connected vigor strategy successful the Eastern Mediterranean.