In a significant diplomatic step, Cyprus and Azerbaijan held their first-ever bilateral meeting between their foreign ministers, Constantinos Kombos and Jeyhun Bayramov, in Baku on the sidelines of the COP29 climate summit. Despite Azerbaijan’s recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, political tensions remain due to Turkish influence urging Azerbaijan to engage with the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Both ministers discussed mutual interests amid the lack of formal diplomatic relations and the upcoming Cypriot EU Council Presidency in 2026, marking a critical point for future dialogue.