President Nikos Christodoulides was on Tuesday night departing for Washington DC, where he will meet US President Joe Biden in a visit described as a “culmination of the strengthened relations” between the two states.

According to government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the meeting will take place at 11:30am local time (5:30pm Cyprus time) on Wednesday.

US Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a statement saying the bilateral meeting was “building on the successful inaugural U.S.-Republic of Cyprus Strategic Dialogue, launched on October 23.”

“The leaders will discuss a range of global issues, including energy security and cooperation, events in the Middle East, and continued robust support to Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression.

“Acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the island’s division, President Biden will reiterate US support for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality for all Cypriots.”

This is the first visit of Republic of Cyprus President to the White House for a meeting with a US President since 1996.

The meeting follows Biden’s invitation to Christodoulides and “the culmination of the strategic and substantial strengthening of relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States, which will continue to develop in the future,” Letymbiotis said.

He added that in the 20 months since Christodoulides took office, relations with the US have significantly strengthened in a wide range of areas, including defence through the signing of a Roadmap for Bilateral Defence Cooperation in September as well as the FBI’s collaboration with Cypriot authorities in detecting and prosecuting financial crime.

There is also collaboration through the Amalthea maritime corridor providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, as well as attracting investment, economic matters and energy. The signing of the Cyprus-US Strategic Dialogue was “a historic milestone of substantial upgrading and a decisive point with the first dialogue taking place,” he added.

Talks as part of the first strategic dialogue between the Republic of Cyprus and the US were held for the first time last week.

“Tomorrow’s meeting takes place at a time when bilateral relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States are at their highest level and are characterised as excellent, but also at a time when the efforts of the UN Secretary General for the resumption of negotiations are continuing and intensifying,” Letymbiotis said.

Christodoulides and Biden are expected to discuss the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East, including Cyprus’ role in providing humanitarian assistance, he added.