In Cyprus, public criticism of UK military bases is growing

Military flights and a drone strike have shaken confidence in Cyprus’s security. British Eurofighter jets and a US U‑2 reconnaissance plane operate from the UK base in Akrotiri, spotlighting the island’s growing militarization. After a suspected Iranian drone hit the base in March, residents fled amid evacuation warnings. Critics blame the British bases for drawing Cyprus into regional conflicts, with tourism already suffering as tensions in the eastern Mediterranean rise.