Cyprus plans to sign a new agreement with the UK regarding its bases on the island — Euractiv
The Cypriot authorities have officially requested that the United Kingdom begin negotiations on changing the status of the sovereign military bases on the island.
This was reported by Euractiv.
Nicosia seeks to revise the terms of control over the territories of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, citing the new geopolitical realities of 2026.
The legal precedent for this demand was London’s recent agreement with Mauritius regarding the Chagos Archipelago.
At that time, Britain agreed to return sovereignty over the islands while retaining the right to operate the Diego Garcia military base under a long-term lease.
“We call for a reassessment of relations and a review of the status under the terms of 2026,” said Chris Pantelides, a member of the Cypriot Democratic Party.
He emphasized that this does not involve an immediate withdrawal of troops, but rather the adaptation of agreements to current norms of international law.
The Cypriot initiative has received strong support from the European Union. During the EU leaders’ summit held on March 19, Brussels expressed its readiness to assist Nicosia in expanding jurisdiction over these territories.
“The European Council acknowledges Cyprus’s intention to initiate discussions with the United Kingdom regarding British bases in Cyprus and stands ready to provide assistance if needed,” reads the final statement of the March summit.
The British bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia occupy about 3% of the island’s territory and have the status of overseas territories of the United Kingdom.
They were established in 1960 as a condition for granting Cyprus independence and continue to play a key role in operations in the Middle East.
As a reminder, Cyprus is preparing for a summer water shortage and is implementing new measures.
Cyprus and Britain will also discuss the military bases on the island.
