Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said the British bases are part of the current reality on the island and part of how challenges are being addressed, in an interview with the BBC this weekend.
Kombos calls for reflection after crisis eases
Speaking to BBC Newsnight presenter Matt Chorley, Kombos said consent was essential regarding the presence of bases on the island, adding that there should be reflection on lessons learned during the crisis and that concerns should be addressed once the situation has eased.
He said that the issue of the bases in Cyprus has been on the agenda for a long time from both sides and that it is a conversation to be held after careful reflection on what has happened in recent days and hours.
Kombos added that the primary objective at present was to ensure efficient coordination and communication, saying authorities were focused on managing the current situation.
Dispute over Akrotiri and Dhekelia intensifies
The role of the British bases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia has long been disputed, with criticism intensifying in recent days amid escalating tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran.
In the context of Israel’s war on Gaza, the bases were previously subject to severe criticism and were repeatedly accused of allowing Israeli warplanes to operate from them, allegations consistently denied by the bases’ administration.
Local activists launched interventions referring to the bases as “genocide bases.”
Starmer confirms use of Akrotiri to intercept drones
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently confirmed that the Akrotiri air force base in Cyprus had been used to shoot down Iranian drones, confirming allegations that the base was used as a launchpad for international missions.
What role should the British bases play during regional crises affecting Cyprus?
