For half a century, the Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been Europe’s forgotten conflict. It’s been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded after a coup backed by Greece. Today, Greek Cypriots control the south, a member of the European Union, while the Turkish-occupied north is recognized only by Ankara. A United Nations buffer zone cuts through the capital, Nicosia, separating the two sides by barbed wire and checkpoints.

Every U.S. president since Jimmy Carter has largely ignored Cyprus. The U.N. has hosted endless rounds of peace talks that have led nowhere. The division has settled into a semi-comfortable stalemate, with both sides becoming less enthusiastic about finding a solution. Past attempts to reunify Cyprus have repeatedly collapsed. In 2004, a U.N.-backed proposal was approved by Turkish Cypriots but overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots, who feared security risks and Turkish influence. The last serious effort came in 2017 in Switzerland, where negotiations between Greece, Turkey, and both Cypriot sides broke down over the question of Turkish troops and security guarantees. These same problems continue to block a deal today.