The government of Cyprus has openly criticised Britain for what it describes as “poor communication,” which it believes has contributed to rising tensions surrounding a recent drone strike on RAF Akrotiri.
In light of these developments, Cypriot officials have indicated that they are open to further discussions on the status of the UK’s sovereign bases on the island, a matter with significant political and strategic implications.
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis emphasised that there has been “no clear clarification” from the British government that its military bases in Cyprus will exclusively serve humanitarian purposes.
This concern was notably amplified after Sir Keir Starmer announced that the United States would be allowed to utilise British bases to conduct operations targeting Iranian missile sites. In response, Letymbiotis stated: “This is something we must emphasise we view with concern,” highlighting the potential for military escalation in a region already fraught with tensions.
When questioned about the possibility of Cyprus renegotiating the existing agreements regarding the British bases, Letymbiotis replied thoughtfully, “In this regard, we are not ruling anything out.” This suggests that the Cypriot government is taking a proactive approach to reassess its relationship with the UK and the implications of UK military activities on the island.
The bases, RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia, form part of a British Overseas Territory and remain under British sovereignty.
Letymbiotis reassured the public that Cyprus is “strictly committed to its humanitarian role,” stating that the nation wishes to maintain its identity as a vital “hub for humanitarian aid.” This commitment is particularly important amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
Starmer’s decision to permit the US to conduct operations from British military bases was made just hours before an unmanned drone strike targeted RAF Akrotiri, raising further concerns among Cypriot officials.
Defence Secretary John Healey later reported that the damage from the drone strike was “minimal” and confirmed that there were no casualties resulting from the incident.
Meanwhile, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides revealed that the drone involved in the attack was Iranian-made. Local media outlets have suggested that the drone most likely originated from Lebanon, which is known to be a base for the terrorist group Hezbollah, further complicating the geopolitical landscape in the region.
On Monday, Starmer insisted to MPs: “I need to say that our bases in Cyprus are not being used by US bombers.”
