UK has no intention of changing Cyprus base arrangement, activists warn

Anti-war activist group Genocide-Free Cyprus have warned that despite pressure the UK wants to keep its colonial presence on the island intact. The group are vocal opponents of the use of Cypriot bases for Israeli genocide and the US/Israeli war on Iran.

They said in a post on 7 March:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ceylan Hassan (@decolonial_cypriot)

They previously warned on 3 April:

The UK government is actively ramping up personnel and military equipment at RAF Akrotiri as the US and ‘I$rael’ intensify their attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran.

Increasing numbers of foreign military aircraft are now passing through the bases, with no transparency or public disclosure about their purpose.

Adding:

These bases in Cyprus are being exploited to enable and sustain military operations that are deepening suffering and devastation across the region.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Genocide-Free Cyprus (@genocide_free.cy)

Cyprus is a war base for Britain

Cyprus is a hub for British military flights over Gaza. The flights are suspected to be gathering intelligence for Israel.

A suspected Hezbollah drone of Iranian manufacture hit Cyprus on 2 March 2026. Locals have raised their concerns about British colonial bases:

The British military has openly stated it considers Cyprus to be an aircraft carrier to project military force, As the Canary reported on 17 March, the head of the military Sir Richard Knighton said:

We don’t need the carrier. We don’t need the Navy. We have an aircraft carrier – it’s called Cyprus.

Knighton was answering criticism that the UK was unprepared for war. But his attitude betrays the same old colonial arrogance.

Snowden leaks show the truth

And as reporter Matt Kennard said on 17 March the US also used the island as a colonial spy base:

Top Secret (Strap1) document leaked by Edward Snowden

First time we knew the specifics of UK spy sites on its Cyprus colonies

First time we knew that every single one was a joint site with US spies

Snowden did the world a major service – a hero for the ages pic.twitter.com/oCqRzDlSal

— Matt Kennard (@kennardmatt) March 17, 2026

The Snowden leak Kennard is referring to states:

Cyprus hosts a wide range of UK and US intelligence facilities.

Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on 3 March:

Despite the assurances given in yesterday’s address by the prime minister of the United Kingdom, there was no clear clarification that the British bases in Cyprus would not under any circumstances be used for any reason other than humanitarian.

Adding:

The information we had, through many communications and at various levels, was clear, that the British bases would have a strictly humanitarian role.

Genocide-Free Cyprus clearly feel their country has been colonised. They’re well within their rights to say so. UK and US control of sovereign Cypriot territory should end. And the sooner the better.

Featured image via the Canary