Cyprus’ foreign minister has said there are “questions” about the future presence of UK military bases on the island following last Sunday’s drone attack.
The drone attack on RAF Akrotiri, suspected to have been launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon, caused minimal damage and caused no casualties.
More drones were intercepted and the Ministry of Defense temporarily transferred family members from the base.
The attack has sparked diplomatic fallout, with the Cypriot high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Kyriacos Kouros, acknowledging that the country was “disappointed” by Britain’s failure to warn the island’s people about the impending attack.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides openly criticized the failure to stop the drone. Its spokesman said last week: “All necessary steps will be taken to communicate our dissatisfaction, both at the way in which this message was communicated and at the fact that there was no timely warning yesterday to citizens of Cyprus living near the Akrotiri bases.”
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said on Friday that a “conversation” was now needed on the withdrawal of the UK’s two bases in Cyprus.
“At the moment we have British bases on the island. There are questions. There are problems. There are concerns,” Kombos told BBC Newsnight.
“Our discontent was shared before the incident and immediately after. We are now focusing on the current situation and how we can manage the crisis.
“And there will, of course, be a reflection on the lessons learned and the issues that are of serious concern after the crisis.”
Asked if he wanted the air bases removed, Kombos said: “I don’t think anyone anywhere in the world is in a position to accept the presence of bases on the island without having expressed clear concern given the current situation or the way things have progressed.”
He added: “As for the future of bases in Cyprus, it is something that has been on the agenda for a long time on both sides.
“But I think this is a conversation we need to have after careful reflection on what has happened, especially in the last few days and hours.”
In another television interview, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy wrongly described Cyprus as a member of NATO.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Lammy said: “We will do everything we can to protect our air base, to protect our staff and our people, but also alongside our allies because Cyprus is part of NATO.”
The Labor MP later clarified to Sky News: “Cyprus is a NATO ally, so we also coordinate with other teams and other close allies how we equip the area.”
Cyprus is one of four EU countries that are currently not members of NATO along with Austria, Ireland and Malta.
The British warship HMS Dragon, which has air defense capabilities, will sail to Cyprus next week following criticism of the UK’s response to drone attacks and accusations that it does not have enough military assets in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and the British military personnel stationed there.
“We will always act in the interests of the United Kingdom and our allies.”
