Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Stephens Excerpts

Monday 25th March 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Can we accelerate the questions, too?

[Chris Stephens (Glasgow South West) (SNP)]

8. What assessment he has made of the security of the sovereign base areas and the armed forces in Cyprus.

[The Minister for Armed Forces (James Heappey)]

The UK continually assesses potential threats to our overseas territories, including the sovereign base areas on the island of Cyprus. British Forces Cyprus provides a permanent military presence, and we are investing in the SBAs to combat current and future threats, in order to ensure local, regional and global security.

[Chris Stephens]

I thank the Minister for his response. The Secretary of State has said:

“We want to do everything possible to ensure the security of Cyprus”.

Does the Minister agree that it would be appropriate to keep the Cypriot Government informed of all UK military operations conducted from their island? Should not that be an official obligation, for the security of Cyprus?

[James Heappey]

The SBAs are sovereign bases, so of course we reserve the right to operate from them as needed, based on the UK national interest. The hon. Gentleman will be reassured to hear that the Secretary of State, his predecessors, other Ministers in the MOD and I have very good relations with the Cypriots, and we seek to tell them as much as we can about operations that we mount from SBAs there.