Removal of British bases needs to be discussed, Kombos tells BBC
The British bases are part of the current reality of the island, and part of how challenges are being addressed by the Republic, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos told the BBC in an interview this weekend.
“I don’t think anyone anywhere in the world would be in a position to accept the presence of bases on the island without having given clear consent given the current [situation] and the way that things have moved forward,” he said.
Speaking to BBC newsnight presenter Matt Chorley, Kombos said that there needs to be a reflection on the lessons learned during the crisis and that concerns should be addressed accordingly once the situation has eased.
“For the future, in regards to the bases in Cyprus, this is something that has been on the agenda for a long time from both sides and I believe it’s a conversation one needs to have after having a careful reflection after what [has happened] in recent days and hours,” he said.
Kombos said that, at present, the primary objective was to ensure efficiency of necessary coordination and communication.
“We are now focusing on the current situation and how we can manage the crisis,” he said.
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 also previously subject to severe criticism. They were repeatedly accused of allowing Israeli warplanes to operate from them.
Local activists had launched several interventions, referring to the bases as ‘genocide bases’, with the allegations having been consistently denied by the bases’ administration.
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.
The bases have been accused of endangering the Cypriot population by engaging in war activities, even if only as a third party, prompting activists to stage a protest against their presence on the island in Nicosia on Saturday.
The Akrotiri base was struck by a drone on Monday, thought to have been launched by Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Although causing only minor damage, the attack resulted in the evacuation of residents and the closure of local schools.
Amid the tensions, a senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that Cyprus could be the target of further missile attacks.