The British Prime Minister will be in Cyprus today for talks with President Christodoulides. It’s worth noting that in mid-October, the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the British Prime Minister met in London.
As reported by the Cypriot side, this is the first bilateral visit by a British Prime Minister to the island since 1971.
According to the Cypriot government’s announcement, “it represents another very significant development in the excellent relations between Cyprus and the United Kingdom, which have been further strengthened and entered a new constructive period within the framework of their Strategic Partnership“.
Clearly, Mr. Keir Starmer’s tour and visit to our island acknowledges the Republic of Cyprus’s geopolitical and geostrategic role, which is becoming even more significant now with developments in our region.
The active war fronts in our neighbourhood are mobilising all forces.
Britain’s new government obviously follows the country’s long-standing geopolitical policies.
These policies, shaped in the Foreign Office, have remained consistent for decades. They occasionally adapt to specific circumstances and conditions, but essentially remain the same.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, London has historically followed a policy that often irritates Nicosia.
It’s a policy that aligns more closely with Turkey and stands opposite to the Republic of Cyprus. The Foreign Office regrettably persists with a misguided policy concerning Cyprus.
Having strategic interests in the region, which they promote through their military bases in Cyprus, maintaining a permanent presence here, they cannot stand in opposition to the Republic of Cyprus.
The support and largely the safeguarding of British interests pass through the Republic of Cyprus.
When we observe and feel that they stand against us, there will always be permanent questioning of Britain’s presence on the island.
Moreover, we must remember that their presence here, through the bases, is historically and conventionally outdated and is maintained only through the Republic of Cyprus’s tolerance.
But that’s a major chapter we’ll address another time.
We’ll await with interest what the British Prime Minister has to say, and we truly hope there will be a shift in the British position.
Conditions and circumstances require Britain to find itself on the right side of history regarding Cyprus. We want good, excellent relations with Britain, but not with the policy it pursues.
