VOLUME LVII – Number 2

Steve Lemeshko

Abstract: The Cyprus Crisis of 1974 divided the island of Cyprus and left a long-lasting effect on the regional dynamics of the Eastern Mediterranean to this day. The following paper provides an examination of the Crisis of 1974 and the role of the United States in it. The study begins with an overview of the history of Cyprus and then focuses on the key development in the crisis—from the Greek-sponsored coup to the subsequent two phases of the Turkish invasion—to analyze where exactly American foreign policy on Cyprus failed. It then concludes with an overview of the aftermath of the conflict, advocating for the role of the U.S. as a potential mediator in post-1974 Cyprus. The following study contributes to the academic discussion through a critical reflection on the role of American foreign policy in Cyprus in 1974 and its aftermath.

Key Words: Cyprus, Cyprus Crisis of 1974, US-Cyprus relations, Eastern Mediterranean, Cold War, Henry Kissinger

About the Author: Steve Lemeshko is an undergraduate student at the University of Idaho, pursuing his degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Political Science. He is interested in studying conflicts of the past and the present and has worked on the Arithmetic of Compassion website for Scott Slovic, Ph.D., to study behavioral responses to mass tragedies such as wars, genocide, and ecocide. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the University, Steve was recently awarded the Distinguished Sophomore Award.

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