Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The two UK military bases located on Cyprus are considered by the Cypriot President, Nikos Christodoulides, to be a lingering “colonial consequence” on the island. He emphasized the need for discussions regarding their status and future. Speaking to the BBC ahead of an EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, Christodoulides indicated that once the Middle East situation stabilizes, Cyprus plans to engage in open and candid talks with the British government about these bases.
The sovereignty of the bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia was granted to the UK under the 1960 treaty that marked Cyprus’s independence from Britain. Recently, RAF Akrotiri was targeted by drones amid escalating tensions following the outbreak of conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. The UK’s response to the drone attacks has drawn some criticism. These drones are believed to have been launched from Lebanon by Hezbollah, an Iranian-supported group, prompting local protests that the British military presence has turned Cyprus into a potential target.
During the attack, two drones were intercepted, while a third managed to strike Akrotiri, causing only minor damage. In response, the UK dispatched a naval frigate to the region. Although the two sovereign base areas in southern and southeastern Cyprus have not been used for direct US military operations against Iran, the UK has allowed US forces to conduct “specific defensive operations” from them. The bases cover an area of approximately 98 square miles (254 square km) and provide employment to over 10,000 Cypriot citizens, who remain under Cypriot responsibility as noted by Christodoulides.
The future of these bases is complex to negotiate, given that the original agreements involved not only the UK and Cyprus but also Greece, Turkey, and representatives from both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. When questioned about whether he wanted the bases removed, Christodoulides stated, “We have a clear approach with regard to the future of the British bases… I’m not going to negotiate publicly.” The UK Ministry of Defence responded by referencing Defence Secretary John Healey’s recent remarks in Parliament, highlighting close military cooperation with Cyprus’s National Guard. Healey himself visited the British air defence team at RAF Akrotiri earlier in March and confirmed that the UK’s presence in the region is supported by NATO allies, including the US, France, Greece, and Germany. Following the drone strike, the UK increased its military presence, with HMS Dragon entering the Mediterranean and allied navies from Greece, France, and Spain also deploying ships to bolster regional security
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.