Nikos Christodoulides has expressed frustration with the United Kingdom’s handling of communications about its military bases in Cyprus following a suspected Iranian-linked drone strike.
In an interview with Alexis Papachelas on Skai TV, Christodoulides said London’s lack of clarity about whether the British bases would be used in attacks on Iran had “caused annoyance” in Nicosia.
A one-way drone believed to have been launched from Lebanon, where Iran-backed Hezbollah is based, struck the runway at RAF Akrotiri on Sunday, causing minimal damage and no injuries.
Christodoulides said clearer public assurances from Keir Starmer were needed earlier that the bases would not be used for aggressive action against Iran.
At the same time, he praised Greece and other European Union partners for deploying naval and air assets to Cyprus, calling the response unprecedented.
The President also said Cyprus would apply to join NATO if possible, but acknowledged this is currently blocked due to Turkey’s position following the island’s division since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
Source: Ekathimerini
