By Nathan Morley
FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – In an exclusive interview with the Famagusta Gazette, British MP Jeremy Corbyn has called for the removal of UK military bases in Cyprus, citing concerns over their use in regional conflicts, he also said activities at the bases put “Cyprus into a position—whether it likes it or not—it’s facilitating the most awful things that are going on in Gaza.”
The former Labour leader and current independent MP emphasized the need for transparency and accountability regarding the operations conducted from the bases.
“My concern is that the bases are being used as an intermediary point in flights to Israel by British—and I suspect Americans as well—and are being used for surveillance over Gaza. Also, it’s very unclear where that information is going,” he told Famagusta Gazette on Friday, adding that a number of MPs had called for all of the information collected by the surveillance flights to be provided to the International Criminal Court (ICC) “for investigation into the killing of so many people in Gaza by the Israeli Defense Force.”
His remarks come amid growing scrutiny of the British bases’ role in supporting military actions in the Middle East, as reports have surfaced that the bases, particularly RAF Akrotiri, have been used to facilitate military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
In the FG interview, Corbyn said he asked himself the question, “What is the purpose and point of this base, other than to support Israel in its illegal occupation of the West Bank and its continued—even after the ceasefire—bombardment of Gaza?”
Asked how he responded to those who argue that the British bases are crucial for regional security and stability, Corbyn wondered what the bases are being used for at the present time. “We have to question their whole use and purpose,” he said. Expanding, he said that given by the late 1960s, economic pressures and changing geopolitical dynamics led to the withdrawal of British troops from major bases in Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf, he found the continued presence of the British in Cyprus “an anomaly… I also think it’s strange that there should be British Sovereign Bases in what is—albeit divided—an independent country of Cyprus.”
IMPACT OF CLOSURE AND CYPRUS
Questioned about what impact the closure of these bases would have on Cyprus and its relationship with the UK, he said: “Obviously there would be some economic impact on Cyprus, it would have to be done by agreement with the Cypriot government of the day. But it seems to me that the role Cyprus has always wanted to play in the region is one of peace and support for people. I think the experience of this past 18 months of the continual flying over Gaza by RAF—and I suspect American planes as well—has really put Cyprus into a position where —whether it likes it or not—it’s facilitating the most awful things that are going on in Gaza.”
The British bases in Cyprus have long been a contentious issue, with many Cypriots viewing them as a relic of colonialism.
The bases were established in 1960 as part of the agreements granting Cyprus independence from British rule. Despite this, the UK retained sovereignty over the bases, which have since been used for various military operations. Corbyn’s call for the removal of the bases has resonated with local activists and politicians who argue that the presence of foreign military installations undermines Cyprus’s sovereignty and security.
The Cyprus Peace Council has also voiced its support for Corbyn’s stance, highlighting the negative impact of the bases on the island’s stability.
The British Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus include Akrotiri and Dhekelia. These bases were retained by the UK under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment when Cyprus gained independence.
Akrotiri, located near Limassol, hosts a key RAF station for Middle Eastern and Mediterranean operations. Dhekelia, near Larnaca, houses a British Army garrison and is adjacent to the UN Buffer Zone.
These bases cover around 3% of Cyprus’s territory and remain strategically important, but their presence is contentious among Cypriots, who see them as remnants of colonial rule undermining Cypriot sovereignty