While Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides was speaking yesterday at the European Council about the crisis in the Middle East, he received a message on his mobile phone about an alert at the British Bases in Akrotiri, giving him the opportunity to explain to the 26 EU leaders how directly the regional escalation in the Middle East affects Cyprus.

According to information reported by the Cyprus News Agency, Nikos Christodoulides informed European leaders about what citizens living around the British bases have been experiencing in recent weeks, with sirens and warning messages becoming part of their daily lives.

He raised the issue of the British Bases

In the same intervention, the Cypriot President also raised an issue with clear political weight for Nicosia, stating that after the end of the war, discussions should begin with the British government regarding the status of the British bases in Cyprus.

This reference came as Cyprus is once again at the center of concern due to its geographical position and the use of the bases in an environment of constant military activity in the region.

The Cyprus issue on the table

During the working lunch of the European Council, attended also by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Nikos Christodoulides argued that the European Union can play a substantial role in advancing the Cyprus issue.

According to the same sources, he stated that the EU has the tools to demonstrate to Turkey the benefits of a solution, insisting that there is a shared goal with A. Guterres for meaningful progress before the end of the latter’s term.

European solidarity

The Cypriot President, according to government sources in Nicosia, also referred to the positive response of certain member states toward Cyprus regarding the crisis related to the bases, linking this stance to an indirect activation of Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union—the mutual assistance clause.

At the same time, he called for a more active European initiative for de-escalation in the Middle East, stressing that countries in the region expect Brussels to show tangible interest rather than simply observe events from a safe distance.

Following the Cypriot intervention, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, expressed support for Cyprus regarding the incident at the bases.

According to the same information, support and solidarity with Nicosia were also expressed by Greece, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy, both on the security issue and on the discussion Cyprus is seeking regarding mechanisms for activating the EU mutual assistance clause.