The future of Britain’s bases on Cyprus has been called into question after the leader of the island nation said there will be an “open and frank” discussion with the UK Government on their remaining. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides voiced his bombshell remarks as he arrived at a European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday (March 19).

Mr Christodoulides said the Cypriots have a “clear” approach to the future of RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia. He said: “The British bases in Cyprus are something that is a colonial consequence. We have more than 10,000 Cypriot citizens within the British bases.”

He is reported by the Cyprus Mail as adding: “We have a responsibility to those people and when the situation in the Middle East ends, we are going to have an open and frank discussion with the British Government.”

The Cypriot leader refused to be drawn on whether he wanted the bases removed from the island, saying he would not negotiate in public.

His comments came after a drone strike hit RAF Akrotiri in the wake of the US-Israeli attack on Iran. There were no casualties in the incident at the base near Limassol and damage was described as “minimal” by officials.

The strike came hours after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had allowed the US to strike Iranian missile sites from British bases.

Two more unmanned drones were intercepted as they headed towards the same base on March 2. Families living at the base were moved into temporary accommodation as a precaution.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the attack on Akrotiri was an example of the “dangerous and indiscriminate attacks” by Iran and its proxies.

RAF Akrotiri is the largest RAF base outside the UK, with more than 3,500 personnel, supporting British operations in the Middle East.

Typhoon jets based at Akrotiri shot down Iranian drones fired at Israel in April 2024. It has been used as a base to enable jets to carry out strikes and patrols in Syria and Iraq as part of Operation Shader.

The base has also supported evacuation flights, including helping people leave Sudan during fighting in 2023.

After the drone strikes earlier this month, France announced it would send a frigate and air defence systems to Cyprus to help protect the EU country.

The UK Government said it would send Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan to the region amid criticism it lacked air defence, but the vessel spent days in port before setting out for Cyprus.

Britain has sovereignty over the bases under a 1960 treaty establishing the independence of Cyprus, which had been part of the British Empire since 1914.

A separate treaty signed in 1960 obliged Greece, Turkey and the UK to guarantee the independence, territorial integrity and security of Cyprus.

Mr Christodoulides unequivocally declared Cyprus as pro-Western and pro-US after the country had for years steered clear of taking sides in any regional conflict.

The US-educated Cypriot leader has positioned the island nation as a bridge between the EU and Middle East.

After the RAF Akrotiri drone strike, Mr Christodoulides has taken pains to emphasise that his country “has not, is not and will not take part in any military action”.

But the UK’s bases in Cyprus have cast a shadow over Cypriot government policy.

The status of the bases previously gained attention amid claims they were used to host US forces or provide equipment or logistical support to Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza.

Britain has insisted the bases were used to support the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and not to funnel military equipment to Israel.