There are still British military bases in Cyprus due to a treaty signed between Cyprus and the UK in 1960, which allows the UK to maintain sovereign military bases on the island.
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The reason why there are still British military bases in Cyprus is due to a treaty signed in 1960 between Cyprus and the UK, which granted independence to Cyprus but also allowed the UK to maintain sovereign military bases on the island. This agreement was made to protect British interests in the region and to allow British forces to support NATO operations in the eastern Mediterranean.
According to the UK government, the bases in Cyprus are “vital for projecting influence in an unstable region and central to UK and Allied operations”. The two military bases, located in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, cover an area of 98 square miles and are home to over 3,000 British military personnel, as well as local civilians who work for the bases.
The bases have played a significant role in various military operations over the years, including the 1991 Gulf War and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They also serve as a training ground for British forces and a staging point for humanitarian aid missions.
In addition to their military function, the bases also have a significant economic impact on Cyprus. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the bases provide employment opportunities for local civilians and contribute to the island’s economy through taxes and spending on goods and services.
As for the future of the bases, while there have been calls for their closure from some Cypriot politicians and activists, the UK government has reiterated its commitment to maintaining the bases. In a statement to the House of Commons in 2017, then UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “The Sovereign Base Areas were retained by the UK after independence in 1960 for defence purposes and we have no intention of revisiting this decision.”
Interesting facts about the British military bases in Cyprus:
- The bases are located on land leased from the Cypriot government, with the leases due to expire in 2021 and 2024. The UK government has initiated talks with Cyprus to renew the leases.
- The bases have their own legal system, based on British law.
- The bases are home to diverse wildlife, including over 400 species of birds, as well as sea turtles and rare plants.
- The British military presence has had a significant impact on local culture, with the introduction of rugby, cricket, and other British sports.
- The bases have been the subject of controversy over the years, with protests by Cypriot activists and allegations of human rights abuses by British forces.
Other methods of responding to your inquiry
The United Kingdom retains a military presence on the island in order to keep a strategic location at the eastern end of the Mediterranean, for use as a staging point for forces sent to locations in the Middle East and Asia.
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Over 100 refugees, mostly Syrians and Palestinians, who arrived in Cyprus on October 21, are being held in the Dhekelia base. Footage has emerged revealing the worsening conditions and rising tensions on the base. The situation has led to discussions between the UK and Cyprus about what to do with the refugees, with the British government insisting that it is up to Cyprus to process their asylum claims, which Cyprus has agreed to. Videos show frustrated refugees setting fire to tents, a man threatening to hang himself, and others receiving treatment.
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Keeping this in consideration, Why did the UK want a military base in Cyprus?
Answer to this: The United Kingdom desired to retain sovereignty over these areas, as this guaranteed the use of UK military bases on Cyprus, including RAF Akrotiri, and a garrison of the British Army.
Regarding this, Where is British Forces Cyprus located?
The answer is: Episkopi is the current location of Headquarters British Forces Cyprus. Commander British Forces Cyprus (CBF) and Administrator of the Sovereign Base Areas is a two-star appointment, alternating every three years between a British Army major-general and a Royal Air Force air vice-marshal.
Also question is, What military bases are in Cyprus?
As a response to this: British Forces Cyprus: A Permanent Joint Operating Base, with significant garrisons in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, including RAF Akrotiri, the joint signals intelligence stations RAF Troodos and Ayios Nikolaos, and facilities to support two resident infantry battalions and supporting British Army units.
In this manner, What makes the Cyprus bases unique?
What makes the Cyprus bases unique is that they are British sovereign territories located on the soil of another sovereign country. Arguably, the only other territory with a comparable status is the US base at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba.
Why did the UK want a military base in Cyprus?
Response will be: The United Kingdom desired to retain sovereignty over these areas, as this guaranteed the use of UK military bases on Cyprus, including RAF Akrotiri, and a garrison of the British Army.
Simply so, Where is British Forces Cyprus located?
Episkopi is the current location of Headquarters British Forces Cyprus. Commander British Forces Cyprus (CBF) and Administrator of the Sovereign Base Areas is a two-star appointment, alternating every three years between a British Army major-general and a Royal Air Force air vice-marshal.
Just so, What military bases are in Cyprus?
The reply will be: British Forces Cyprus: A Permanent Joint Operating Base, with significant garrisons in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, including RAF Akrotiri, the joint signals intelligence stations RAF Troodos and Ayios Nikolaos, and facilities to support two resident infantry battalions and supporting British Army units.
Correspondingly, Why did the British withdraw from Cyprus? In 1974, the British government decided that British forces would be entirely withdrawn from Cyprus, because the sprawling bases had become undefendable in the light of increasing troop demands in Northern Ireland, and because of pressure on the defence budget.