Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Akrotiri and Dhekelia | |
|---|---|
| Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia | |
|
Flag Seal | |
| Anthem: "God Save the King"[a] | |
Location of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (deep pink) | |
Location of Akrotiri (southwest) and Dhekelia (southeast) in deep pink on Cyprus | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Treaty of Establishment | 16 August 1960 |
| Capital | Episkopi Cantonment |
| Largest civilian settlement | Akrotiri |
| Official languages | English |
| Government | De facto stratocratic dependency under a constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Charles III |
• Administrator | Air Vice-Marshal Peter Squires ex officio |
| Government of the United Kingdom | |
• Minister | Stephen Doughty |
| Area | |
• Total | 254 km2 (98 sq mi) |
• Akrotiri | 123 km2 (47 sq mi) |
• Dhekelia | 131 km2 (51 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2020 estimate | 18,195[2] (not ranked) |
| Currency | Euro (€) (EUR) |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) |
| Driving side | Left |
| Calling code | +357 |
| Postal codes in Cyprus UK postcode | 4640 (Akrotiri) 7502 (Dhekelia) BFPO 57 / BF1 2AT (Akrotiri) BFPO 58 / BF1 2AU (Dhekelia) |
Akrotiri and Dhekelia (/ˌækroʊˈtɪəri ənd diˈkeɪliə/), officially the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia[3] (SBA), is a British Overseas Territory made of two non-contiguous areas on the island of Cyprus. The areas, which include British military bases and installations that were formerly part of the Crown colony of Cyprus, were retained by the British under the 1960 treaty of independence signed by the United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey, the President of Cyprus and the representative of the Turkish Cypriot community. The territory serves as a station for signals intelligence and is thereby part of the United Kingdom's surveillance-gathering work in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.[4][5]
Despite being under British control, Akrotiri and Dhekelia are integrated with the surrounding Cypriot communities and economies.[6] The areas are notable for their strategic geopolitical value and rich environmental features, including the Akrotiri Salt Lake, a protected wetland. Education, policing, and healthcare services are provided in coordination with the Republic of Cyprus. The SBAs also play a significant role in intelligence and communications operations across the Eastern Mediterranean. Although not part of the European Union post-Brexit, the areas continue to be governed by protocols that align with certain EU laws to avoid disrupting the daily lives of residents.[7][8]
- ^ "National Anthem". The Royal Family. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ciawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "British Nationality Act 1981 – SCHEDULE 6 British Overseas Territories". UK Government. September 2016. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ "The World's Five Military Empires". Big Think. 10 July 2017. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ Wald, Charles (4 December 2019). "Pull US Troops Out of Turkey: Former EUCOM Deputy". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ "[ANALYSIS] The hidden potential of the UK's Cyprus SBAs in the eastern Mediterranean". turkishminute.com. TurkishMinute. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 20 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ "Britain to upgrade communications on Cyprus military base". stripes.com. Menelaos Hadjicostis. 14 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ "Documents considered by the Committee on 18 July 2018 Contents". publications.parliament.uk. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
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