The Guardian
Cyprus raises doubts about future of British bases on island after drone strike
Foreign minister wants ‘conversation’ about closing UK military sites following lack of warning of impending attack on RAF Akrotiri
Cyprus’s foreign minister has said there are “questions” about the future of the UK’s military bases on the island after the drone strike last Sunday.
The attack on RAF Akrotiri, suspected to have been launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon, caused minimal damage and did not result in casualties.
Further drones were intercepted and the Ministry of Defence temporarily moved families from the base.
The attack has triggered a diplomatic fallout, with the Cypriot high commissioner to the UK, Kyriacos Kouros, saying the country was “disappointed” by Britain’s failure to warn people on the island of the impending strike.
The Cypriot president, Nikos Christodoulides, openly criticised the failure to stop the drone attack. His spokesperson said last week: “All necessary steps will be taken to communicate our dissatisfaction, both with the way this message was communicated and the fact that yesterday there was no timely warning to citizens of Cyprus living near the Akrotiri bases.”
The foreign minister, Constantinos Kombos, said on Friday there now needed to be a “conversation” about the future of the UK’s two bases in Cyprus.
“Right now we have the British bases on the island. There are questions. There are issues. There are concerns,” Kombos told BBC’s Newsnight.
“Our displeasure was shared leading up to the incident and immediately afterwards. We are now focusing on the current situation and how we can manage the crisis.
“And there will be, of course, a reflection as to lessons learned and issues that are of serious concern after the crisis.”
Asked if he wanted the airbases to be removed, Kombos said: “I don’t think anyone anywhere in the world would be in any position of accepting the presence of bases on the island without having given a clear concern given the current or the way things have moved forward.”
He added: “As to the future of the bases in Cyprus, this is something that has been on the agenda for a long time from both sides.
“But I believe this is a conversation that one needs to have after we have a careful reflection as to what has transpired, especially in recent days and hours.”
In a separate television interview, the deputy prime minister, David Lammy, erroneously described Cyprus as a member of Nato.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Lammy said: “We will do everything we can to protect our airbase, to protect our staff and people but also alongside our allies because Cyprus is part of Nato.”
The Labour MP later clarified to Sky News: “Cyprus is a Nato ally, so we coordinate also with other teams and other close allies on how we equip the area.”
Cyprus is one of four EU countries not currently a member of Nato along with Austria, Ireland and Malta.
The British warship HMS Dragon, which has air defence capabilities, will sail to Cyprus next week after criticism over the UK’s response to the drone attacks and accusations that it has insufficient military assets in the Middle East.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, has said: “The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there.
“We will always act in the interest of the UK and our allies.”
