Cyprus Activists Warn Against Use of UK Bases for Iran War Operations
By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
A Cypriot activist has warned against using British military bases on the island for operations linked to the Iran war, arguing that Cyprus should not become what he described as “a launch pad” forA Cypriot activist has warned against using British military bases on the island for operations linked to the Iran war, arguing that Cyprus should not become what he described as “a launch pad” for a wider regional conflict.
In the interview, Marcos Economou of the Cypriot anti-capitalist group Anatropi said activists were mobilising against the continued presence and use of the British sovereign base areas, including RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia. He said the bases “have no place in Cyprus” and warned against using the island as “a launch pad” for military operations tied to the regional crisis.
The comments come as military deployments linked to the Iran conflict continue to draw political reactions across parts of Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. Bosphorus News reported on March 6, 2026 that Greece’s Communist Party condemned the deployment of a Patriot air defence system and F-16 fighter jets to Bulgaria, arguing that the move risked expanding regional military involvement in the crisis.
Economou said tensions surrounding the conflict had sharpened debate inside Cyprus over the continued role of British military facilities on the island. Activists have staged demonstrations near the Akrotiri base and outside the presidential palace in Nicosia, according to the interview.
Britain retained sovereignty over the Akrotiri and Dhekelia base areas when Cyprus gained independence in 1960, and the installations have since served as key operational hubs for British military activity in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. a wider regional conflict. The remarks were made in an interview with Socialist Worker published on March 11, 2026.
In the interview, Marcos Economou of the Cypriot anti-capitalist group Anatropi said activists were mobilising against the continued presence and use of the British sovereign base areas, including RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia. He said the bases “have no place in Cyprus” and warned against using the island as “a launch pad” for military operations connected to the crisis.
The comments come as regional military deployments linked to the Iran conflict continue to draw political reactions across parts of Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. Bosphorus News previously reported that Greece’s Communist Party condemned the deployment of a Patriot air defence system and F-16 fighter jets to Bulgaria as part of NATO’s regional posture
Economou said tensions surrounding the conflict had intensified debate inside Cyprus over the role of British military facilities on the island. Activists have staged demonstrations near the Akrotiri base and outside the presidential palace in Nicosia, according to the interview.
Britain retained sovereignty over the Akrotiri and Dhekelia base areas when Cyprus gained independence in 1960. The facilities have since served as key operational hubs for British military activity in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.