London, United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the United States military is not using Cyprus, after a question in parliament referenced threats by an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps general to fire missiles at the island.
Starmer addresses claims about US presence
Fielding a question in parliament from Liberal Democrat MP Al Pinkerton about Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps general Sardar Jabbari’s threats to fire missiles at Cyprus, Starmer said reports of a US military presence on the island are not true as far as he is concerned.
“I will be absolutely clear again, because it really matters, that the US is not using Cyprus. It is our base. I will not go into operational details, but as [Pinkerton] would expect, we are taking all necessary measures to ensure that Cyprus and the base are safe,” he said.
Cypriot spokesman cites UK assurances
Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Tuesday that British government officials, both publicly and in direct conversations with Cypriot counterparts, have ruled out American use of the British bases in Cyprus.
Those officials, he said, “have made it clear that in any discussions which are taking place, in any planning which is being done in relation to the United States, the bases located in … Cyprus are not included”.
Letymbiotis said this was something Cyprus had stated from the beginning, and that it would have been useful for the same clarity to be included in Starmer’s initial statements on Sunday when he announced that other UK bases would be used by US forces in the conflict.
Commons clarification and drone incident
Starmer sought to clarify his statements in the British parliament on Monday evening, saying in the House of Commons that “it is important for me to say that our bases in Cyprus are not being used by US bombers”.
He also said the drone which hit the base shortly after midnight on Monday had not been fired “in response to any decision that we have taken”.
Starmer said it is believed the drone was fired before his statements on Sunday and landed after his statements concluded.
Reason given for non-use
Later, when asked why the bases in Cyprus are not being used by US forces, Starmer said they “are not suitable”.
What do you think is the key point Starmer sought to clarify about the British bases in Cyprus?
