After gaining independence in 1960, Cyprus became a sovereign state, but was not completely freed from the British military presence. In accordance with the London and Zurich agreements, which became the basis of the constitutional structure of the new republic, Great Britain retained the right to two sovereign territories - Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
These zones received a special status - Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs), that is, sovereign bases completely under British control. Their total area is about 254 sq. km, which is 2.74% of the island's territory. The Akrotiri base occupies 123 sq. km., and the Dhekelia base occupies 131 sq. km. Both are British Overseas Territories. For example, Bermuda, Anguilla, the Virgin Islands and other lands belong to this category. British bases have their own motto - Dieu et mon droit (translated from French: “God and my right”). Commander: Air Vice-Marshal Peter Squires.
The British arrived in Cyprus in 1878, when the Ottoman Empire ceded them control of the island in exchange for support against Russia. Even then, Cyprus was seen as a strategic point for control of the eastern Mediterranean and routes to India through the Suez Canal. After World War II, the island's importance only increased: it became the center of the British and Allied presence in the Middle East. When the Cypriots fought for independence in the 1950s, London knew that the loss of Cyprus would completely undermine its position in the region. The 1960 compromise allowed military capabilities to be maintained without the need for direct colonial rule.
Akrotiri Base serves as the UK's main air force center in the region. Here is the Royal Air Forces Akrotiri air base, one of the largest outside the UK itself. It houses reconnaissance aircraft, transport aircraft and NATO communications infrastructure. Akrotiri was actively used for operations in the Middle East - in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, as well as for humanitarian missions.
Dhekelia, in turn, has a predominantly land significance. British Army units responsible for logistics, surveillance and support of Allied operations are stationed here.
The total population of the bases is just over 18,000 people, half of them associated with the Air Force and Army. Although the bases are sovereign, they are surrounded by Cypriot villages and have a working relationship between them. About 60% of base employees are Cypriots.
For Britain and NATO, these bases are the key to the eastern Mediterranean. They provide surveillance of air and sea space near Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt, and serve as refueling and evacuation points.
In 2015, the UK government renewed its agreement with the Republic of Cyprus, allowing Cypriots free use of land near the bases, which eased some of the tension in relations. However, the issue still remains sensitive: part of the Cypriot population believes that the presence of the former colonial power limits the country's sovereignty. On the other hand, many recognize that the bases contribute to the security of the region, create jobs and provide quick assistance in case of emergency.
Today, British bases symbolize the complex balance between history, politics and geography. Cyprus remains a bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa, and its importance as a strategic hub is only increasing. One way or another, the British military presence in Cyprus is not just a matter of history, but part of the geopolitical reality with which the island has lived for more than sixty years.
