Cypriot president demands talks with UK over military bases – branding them ‘colonial consequences’
The Cypriot president said he would have “an open and frank discussion with the British government” on the future of UK military bases in Cyprus.
Nikos Christodoulides described the bases as a “colonial outcome” and said the Cypriot government had a responsibility to the 10,000 citizens living on the bases amid increasing conflicts in the Middle East.
It comes after RAF Akrotiri, a British military base in Cyprus, was hit by an unmanned drone strike at the start of the Iran war, raising concerns the bases could pose a threat to the security of the island.
Speaking on his arrival at the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday, Mr Christodoulides said: “British bases in Cyprus are a colonial outcome… We have more than 10,000 Cypriot citizens in British bases.
“We have a responsibility to these people and we will have an open and frank discussion with the British government when the situation in the Middle East arises.”
When asked if he wanted to get rid of the bases, he said: “We have a clear approach on the future of British bases” and added: “I am sure you understand that I will not negotiate in public.”
His remarks came a day after he described the bases as “colonial remnants”. But he also insisted that cooperation between the British and Cypriot governments was “hugely positive”.
It comes as conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, with gas prices rising to a three-year high on Thursday after attacks on energy facilities in Iran and Qatar damaged a Shell facility and raised fears of disruption to global supplies.
Questions over the future of the Cyprus bases will put pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, who is already facing criticism over his decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The archipelago hosts a major UK-US military base at Diego Garcia, which will be leased back to the UK as part of the deal.
Defense minister Al Carns insisted on Tuesday that their future was “not an issue” in a bid to end the row over Cyprus bases.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Liberal Democrat MP Al Pinkerton asked defense minister Al Carns about “growing unrest” regarding bases in Cyprus following protests in the country.
He said: “Following the drone attack on RAF Akrotiri earlier this month, there is growing unrest within Cyprus and within the Cypriot community about the continued existence of sovereign base areas.
“Given the absolute necessity of this defense relationship between the United Kingdom and Cyprus, can the Minister update the House on the Secretary of State’s upcoming visit to Cyprus earlier this month?
“Can he tell us what assurance the Cypriot government needs from us to ensure not only the security of the base but also the future security of Cyprus?”
In response, Mr Carns said: “Our sovereign base in Cyprus is out of the question.
“When the Secretary of State for Defense visited Cyprus, the Cypriot National Guard reaffirmed that our relationship is closer than ever.”
According to Cypriot foreign minister Constantinos Kombos, the drone that attacked RAF Akrotiri was Iranian-made but launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The drone caused minimal damage and did not cause any casualties.
More drones were seized and the Department of Defense temporarily removed families from the base.
Mr Kombos told the BBC’s Newsnight programme: “There are British bases on the island at the moment. There are questions. There are problems. There are concerns.”
British bases in Cyprus were established as part of the independence agreement negotiated in 1960 and are the UK military’s main base for operations in the Middle East.
