President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides has stated that once the Middle East conflict is over, Nicosia intends to hold an “open and frank conversation” with London about the future of British sovereign military bases on the island.
Christodoulides described the presence of the bases at Akrotiri (in the south) and Dhekelia (in the east) as a “colonial relic,” emphasizing that Cyprus bears responsibility for the safety of more than 10,000 Cypriot citizens living in areas adjacent to the bases. He said the republic’s authorities have a “clear plan” for resolving all issues related to these facilities step by step.
The British bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia occupy approximately 3% of the island’s territory and remain under full British sovereignty under the Treaty of Establishment of 1960, which granted Cyprus its independence. These territories have formally never been part of the Republic of Cyprus.
The trigger for Nicosia’s more assertive stance was a recent Iranian drone strike on RAF Akrotiri, which heightened Cypriot authorities’ concern that the presence of British strategic facilities may draw neutral Cyprus into regional conflicts.
The Cypriot president raised the issue during a phone call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Nicosia is seeking a revision of the 1960 treaty’s provisions regarding security guarantees, consultation on base operations, and new mechanisms for the island’s protection. At the same time, Cyprus is reportedly not yet demanding the full withdrawal of the bases.
The UK Ministry of Defence has already stated that the status of the Sovereign Base Areas is not open for discussion. London emphasizes that sovereignty over Akrotiri and Dhekelia was retained in 1960 and that the “friendship” between the two countries remains strong.
The issue has sparked wide debate in Cypriot society and among some politicians, who have long viewed the bases as an anachronism of the colonial era. Some legal organizations have even invoked UN decolonization principles.
Should negotiations take place, they could prove a serious test for British-Cypriot relations, particularly given the close military cooperation between the two countries and Akrotiri’s role as a key British outpost in the Eastern Mediterranean.