Cyprus is talking with the United Kingdom about its military bases. The country also wants more security from the European Union. This is because of problems in nearby regions. President Nikos Christodoulides said that dangers near Cyprus are European problems. Some in the EU agree, but others are worried.
Recent conflicts close to Cyprus are why these talks are happening. A drone attack on a British airbase showed the danger. Over 10,000 Cypriot people live near these bases. So, Cyprus is thinking about the bases' future. The President wants to have a "frank discussion" with the UK. He is questioning the old reasons for the bases.
Cyprus also wants to improve its defense with the EU. President Christodoulides supports using a special EU rule for mutual defense. This rule has been used very little before. He believes that problems in the Middle East, like the drone attack, need a strong EU answer. The EU Council knows about the talks on the UK bases. They said they will help if needed. However, other EU countries are not sure about the defense rule. They worry about being pulled into other conflicts.
The UK government does not want to change the bases. The Defence Secretary said their future is "not in question." This could make talks difficult. However, the EU's support for Cyprus's talks shows the island's importance. Cyprus often feels alone with its worries. Some EU members seem far from the regional problems. An EU official recently met with Cyprus. This shows more focus on Cyprus's security. Cyprus wants to show that its safety is important for all of Europe. The next few months will show if Cyprus can get more EU support. It will also show how it handles the issue of the UK bases.