Cyprus to ‘seek new security deal’ for UK army bases following strike on RAF Akrotiri | EUROtoday

Cyprus is alleged to be looking for new safety preparations for Britain’s army bases on the island after it was focused by Iranian drone assaults.

Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides reportedly raised ​the problem throughout a prolonged name with Sir Keir Starmer on Saturday, after he vowed to have an “open and frank discussion with the British government” over the way forward for RAF Akrotiri.

Mr Christodoulides is looking for to renegotiate the safety preparations of ​the 1960 treaty, which established the sovereign bases of RAF ​Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus, in line with The Telegraph.

However, it isn’t believed that Cyprus will demand Britain to surrender the bases solely.

A UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson mentioned the standing of the bases was not up for negotiation ‌and ⁠that the “longstanding friendship” between the UK and Cyprus “remained strong”.

“The status of the Sovereign Base Areas is not in question. The SBAs have never been ​part of ​the Republic of ⁠Cyprus as UK sovereignty was retained over these areas when Cyprus became independent in 1960. ​We have no plans to change this,” ​the spokesperson ⁠mentioned.

It comes after RAF Akrotiri, a British army base in Cyprus, was hit by an unmanned drone strike in the beginning of the Iran warfare, elevating considerations that the bottom could possibly be a risk to the island’s safety.

The assault prompted Britain to ship the warship HMS Dragon to the nation, although the vessel solely arrived within the japanese Mediterranean on Monday, virtually three weeks after its deployment was first introduced.

Mr Christodoulides has described the bases as a “colonial consequence” and mentioned the Cypriot authorities has a accountability to the ten,000 residents residing inside the bases amid the escalating battle within the Middle East.

Speaking upon his arrival on the European Council summit in Brussels final Thursday, Mr Christodoulides mentioned: “The British bases in Cyprus are something that is a colonial consequence… We have more than 10,000 Cypriot citizens within the British bases.

“We have a responsibility to those people… we are going to have an open and frank discussion with the British government.”

Asked whether or not he desires rid of the bases, he mentioned that “we have a clear approach with regard to the future of the British bases”, including, “I am sure that you understand that I am not going to negotiate in public.”

It comes because the battle within the Middle East rages on, because the UK works to develop a plan to reopen the very important oil transport route of the Strait of Hormuz.

The blockade has seen oil costs soar above $100 a barrel and prompted Shell boss Wael Sawan to warn at an trade convention on Tuesday that Europe might face oil shortages by subsequent month if it stays closed.

Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded that different nations take a task in opening the strait, and the UK is presently main efforts to formulate a plan to attain that.

In a name with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on Tuesday night time, Sir Keir mentioned the UK was “now working with partners on what a viable plan could look like to ensure the flow of goods through the key maritime route”.

However, any deployment of naval vessels is known to be unlikely to happen whereas Iran continues to threaten ships within the strait with missiles and drones.