Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Ακρωτήρι και Δεκέλεια (Greek) Timeline: Scotland says "Yes"
Ağrotur ve Dikelya (Turkish) OTL equivalent: Akrotiri and Dhekelia | |||
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Location of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in red (encircled)
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Largest Settlement | Episkopi Cantonment | ||
Official languages | English | ||
Regional languages | Greek, Cypriot Greek, Cypriot Turkish, Turkish | ||
Government | Constitutional monarchy | ||
Establishment | 1960 | ||
Currency | Euro |
The Sovereign Bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia is a British Overseas Territory in the island of Cyprus. which include British military bases and installations, as well as other land, were retained by the British under the 1960 treaty of independence, signed by the United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey and representatives from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, which granted independence to the Crown colony of Cyprus.
The bases play a significant role to British and NATO operations in the Middle East as well as providing communications and intelligence to the Mediterranean.
History[]
Recent History[]
Following the Ghouta chemical attack in Syria, some Cypriot and British media sources speculated that long-range ballistic missiles, fired from Syria in retaliation for proposed British involvement in military intervention against the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, could hit Cyprus, and could potentially deliver chemical weapons. On 27 August 2013, Cypriot foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides had moved to calm Cypriot concerns, saying that the British bases were unlikely to play a major part in any intervention. Due to Russian pressure on the U.S., the U.K., and the French, the intervention did not happen.
However, in August to September 2014, the Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets based in RAF Akrotiri conducted air strikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The territory continues to support British and allied operations against ISIS in the Middle East and North Africa.
Military[]
Defense is the responsibility of the United Kingdom, provided by British Forces Cyprus. Present in the territory is the RAF Akrotiri and a garrison for the British Army. The bases are sometimes used by NATO aircraft when transiting from the Middle East to Europe and during joint-military exercises. Civilians present include medical teams, nurses, engineers, and military contractors.
Flag[]
The territory officially uses the old Union Jack despite Scotland's independence in 2015. This is in leu of the scrapped proposals to incorporate the new Union Jack in all British Overseas Territories. However, the old Union Jack flies alongside the new Union Jack in the territory.
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