British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Cyprus on Tuesday for a historic visit, marking the first bilateral prime ministerial trip to the Mediterranean island in over 50 years.
In a departure from traditional protocol, Starmer landed at Larnaca International Airport rather than at British military bases on the island.
He was welcomed by President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia shortly before 9 a.m. for working talks focused on bilateral issues, the Cyprus problem, and developments in Syria.
The one-day working visit, part of Starmer’s regional tour, represents a milestone in UK-Cyprus relations.
It is the first bilateral visit by a British prime minister since Edward Heath in 1971, as John Major’s 1993 trip was made in the context of a Commonwealth meeting.
The leaders are currently engaged in discussions that highlight the strengthening ties between the two nations.
The visit takes place amid regional tensions and follows Starmer’s recent stops in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
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