Nicosia: President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, stated that Cyprus will proceed with a specific plan regarding the British Bases stationed in the country. His remarks were in response to inquiries about the British Ministry of Defense's stance against negotiating the bases' status.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides emphasized that preparations for this plan began prior to his public announcement. He underscored the importance of the European Union's acknowledgment in its recent Council Conclusions, highlighting that the EU recognizes Cyprus's intentions, adding substantial value to the effort.
The President's comments came during his visit to the Ayia Napa Marina, as part of the preparation for the upcoming Informal Meeting of Heads of State or Government scheduled for April 23-24, 2026, in Cyprus.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 following Turkey's invasion and occupation of the northern part. Attempts at UN-led peace talks have not yielded resolutions, with the last round in July 2017 at Crans-Montana ending without agreement.
The situation around the British Bases gained further attention after a Shahed-type drone attack on March 2 targeted military facilities in Akrotiri, causing minor damage. This incident, linked to Hezbollah and amid regional tensions, led to increased security and international military support for Cyprus, although Nicosia remains uninvolved in the broader Middle East conflict.