AKEL opposes the use of British bases in Cyprus for military operations

On September 22, 2026, the opposition party AKEL issued a statement expressing strong opposition to the British government’s decision to utilize the Akrotiri base in Cyprus for military support missions. Reports indicate that the United Kingdom intends to deploy a Royal Air Force Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft from the base to assist Saudi Arabian fighter jets in countering Houthi attacks from Yemen.

AKEL officials characterized the British bases as a colonial legacy and warned that their involvement in Middle East conflicts poses direct security risks to Cyprus and its population. The party has formally urged the Christodoulides government to take immediate diplomatic action to declare that the Republic of Cyprus does not consent to the use of its territory for these ongoing regional military operations. While the British government confirmed the planned use of the aircraft this week, the Cypriot government has not yet issued a formal public response to the opposition's demands.