THE future of Britain’s RAF bases in Cyprus is under threat amid the conflict in the Middle East.
Cypriot foreign minister Constantinos Kombos has said there needs to be a “conversation” about whether the two military installations should be removed from the island.
RAF Akrotiri – home to thousands of British military personnel and their families – was evacuated last Sunday following a drone strike on the runway.
The blast hit a hangar which is normally occupied by US spy planes.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Mr Kombos said: “I don’t think anyone anywhere in the world would be in any position of accepting the presence of bases on the island…given the clear concern, given the way things have moved forward.”
He added: “As to the future of the bases in Cyprus, this is something that has been on the agenda for a long time from both sides.
“But I believe this is a conversation that one needs to have after we have a careful reflection as to what has transpired, especially in recent days and hours.”
There has been growing anger among Cypriot officials over accusations that Sir Keir Starmer failed to protect the island ahead of Donald Trump’s attack on Iran last week.
Mr Kombos said the country has made its “displeasure” clear.
He added: “There are questions, there are issues, there are concerns.
“Our displeasure was shared leading up to the incident and immediately afterwards.
“We are now focusing on the current situation and how we can manage the crisis. And there will be, of course, a reflection as to lessons learned and issues that are of serious concern after the crisis.”
Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides also said there is “nothing I can rule out” when asked whether he wanted the status of British bases to be reviewed on Friday.
The Prime Minister defended the UK’s military response leading up to the airstrikes which killed Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Six RAF F35 jets were sent prior to the war to reinforce the eight Typhoons stationed in Cyprus, with ground-based air defences also deployed.
Drone-detecting Wildcat helicopters arrived in the region this weekend.
The UK is also deploying air defence destroyer HMS Dragon but it won’t arrive on the island until next week.
‘TIME OF DANGER’
By Robin Perrie
BRITAIN’S chief of defence staff yesterday declared the world was living through the most “dangerous time” of the past 30 years.
Sir Richard Knighton also defended PM Sir Keir Starmer, who has been fiercely criticised.
US President Donald Trump said of him: “This is not Winston Churchill we are dealing with here.” But Sir Richard insisted the UK had been “bolstering our presence” in the Middle East for several weeks.
He said HMS Dragon would leave for the Eastern Med “in the next few days”.
