Brussels, Belgium. Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday described the United Kingdom’s bases in Cyprus as “a colonial remnant” and said their status should be discussed after the ongoing Middle East conflict ends.
Christodoulides’ remarks in Brussels
Speaking at an event in Brussels, Christodoulides said, “The presence of the British bases in Cyprus is a colonial remnant. When this crisis is over, we need to have an open and frank discussion with the British government,” according to news website PolicyPress.
UK government position
His comments contrasted with statements by the UK’s parliamentary undersecretary of state for the armed forces, Al Carns, who told the British House of Commons that the bases’ future is “not in question.”
Carns also said that during Defence Secretary John Healey’s visit to Cyprus earlier this month, “the Cypriot national guard reaffirmed that our relationship is closer now than ever before.”
Cyprus political reactions and public concern
During the same Commons debate, opposition MP Al Pinkerton spoke of “growing disquiet within Cyprus” about the bases following the Akrotiri air force base being hit by an Iranian-made drone on March 2.
Akel leader Stefanos Stefanou called for the abolition of the bases, saying his party has been “emphasising this for decades, calling for the abolition of the bases,” and that “the challenge now is to make it clear at every opportunity that Cyprus is not and does not want to become a war base.”
Bicommunal opposition and regional security warnings
Turkish Cypriot opposition party CTP deputy leader Asim Akansoy said the UK’s continued possession of two sovereign bases on the island is “a great mistake of history.”
In the UK, former prime minister Rishi Sunak said after the drone strike that Cyprus “is only a target because of our sovereign bases there.” Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said the government had “consistently” warned that the British bases could become a target in the event of a conflict in the region.
Earlier, Christodoulides said that “nothing has been ruled out” regarding the bases’ future.
What do you think should be included in any future discussions on the status of the UK bases in Cyprus?
