Cyprus Seeks to Revise the Status of British Military Bases on the Island

Cyprus is demanding that the United Kingdom enter into negotiations to revise the status of its two military bases on the island.

Euractiv reported on this.

The bases in question are the Akrotiri Air Base and the Dhekelia Base, which are under London’s control and have the status of British overseas territories.

The Cypriot government’s legal strategy is based on a controversial agreement between the UK and the island nation of Mauritius regarding the transfer of control over the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

There, on Diego Garcia Island, is a strategically important military base that the U.S. also uses for operations in the Middle East.

Chrysis Pantelides, a Democratic Party MP from Cyprus familiar with the negotiations, stated that no one harbors any illusions about expecting a complete withdrawal of British troops from the island.

“We call for a reassessment of relations and a review of the status under the conditions of 2026,” he announced.

The Cypriot government has the support of the European Union in revising agreements regarding the sovereign British military bases on the island.

When Cyprus gained independence from the British Empire in 1960, London retained two sovereign bases on the island—Akrotiri and Dhekelia. They occupy only 3% of the island’s territory—254 km². The bases play an important role in operations in the Middle East.

In late March, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides announced that he had begun negotiations with the United Kingdom regarding the future status of its military bases.

On the night of March 2, a drone attacked the Akrotiri airbase and damaged a hangar housing American U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft.

The British Ministry of Defense confirmed the damage to the building but stated that “the equipment inside the hangar was not damaged.”