Akrotiri residents protest against installation of British military antennas
On August 8, 2026, the Municipality of Kourion organized a peaceful protest in the Akrotiri area, Cyprus, to oppose the British Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) administration's plans to install 68 new military antennas. The march commenced at 9:30 a.m. from the first entrance of the Akrotiri Municipal District, with protesters delivering a resolution to the British Bases command expressing concerns over public health, environmental damage to the protected Salt Lake area, and the perceived militarization of the peninsula.
Local authorities and movements, including "Akrotiri Ora Miden," cite the recent issuance of a land requisition order as a catalyst for the protest, claiming it bypassed previous consultations. Environmental groups like BirdLife Cyprus and Terra Cypria have highlighted potential risks to migratory bird populations protected under the Natura 2000 network and the Ramsar Convention.
In response, the British Bases administration maintained that the project is an infrastructure modernization effort. They have committed to conducting formal environmental impact assessments and public consultations before construction begins. The authorities also noted that any required land acquisition will follow legal procedures, with compensation provided to affected owners, and proposed co-funding independent scientific studies on potential emissions.