Relations between the two countries have been exceptionally close since the Republic of Cyprus was formed in 1960.

The Greek populations in Cyprus and Greece share a common ethnicity, heritage, language, and religion.

Greece has given full support to Cyprus' membership in the European Union.

In July 1974, the Greek military junta supported a coup by the Cypriot National Guard as part of efforts to achieve unification between Greece and Cyprus.

This was followed shortly thereafter by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, resulting in the current division of the island.