Diplomatic consultations follow drone attack on British air base in Cyprus

Following a successful drone strike on the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus on the night of Saturday, March 1, 2026, the Republic of Cyprus has engaged in intensive diplomatic coordination with the United Kingdom. Cypriot High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Kyriacos Kouros, stated that Nicosia does not wish to be drawn into the regional conflict, noting that the base houses both military facilities and residential areas with Cypriot citizens. President Nikos Christodoulides has held multiple discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside continuous contacts between the foreign ministries and national security advisors of both nations. While the UK is deploying the HMS Dragon and Wildcat helicopters to the region, High Commissioner Kouros observed that the warship is not expected to arrive for approximately one week. Kouros expressed public concern regarding security, emphasizing that thousands of Cypriot citizens live within or near the base territories and 5 percent of the island's population are British expatriates. The Cypriot government has requested that the UK implement necessary protective measures to ensure the safety of the civilian population. Nicosia maintains that Cyprus acts as a humanitarian hub and seeks to remain outside the escalating Middle East hostilities.