US, Cyprus embark on strategic dialogue that officials say demonstrates closest-ever ties

Cyprus-US relations have reached their highest level yet after the two countries embarked on a strategic dialogue on key issues including defense, security, energy, crisis management and the fight against terrorism, officials said Monday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hailed the development as a "powerful evidence of the strengthening, deepening (and) broadening of the relationship between our countries acting together in so many areas."

"It's a reflection of the fact that Cyprus is an important player in the region, and a partnership for the United States that we deeply value," Blinken said ahead of talks with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos in Washington.

Kombos hailed the start of the dialogue as a hallmark for the east Mediterranean island nation's closest-ever ties with the US in a tumultuous region where Cyprus can be relied on as a...