The US' use of the RAF bases on Cyprus are only expanding.

• A U.S. spy force is permanently based on RAF Akrotiri
• 129 US soldiers on RAF Akrotiri, including 15 officers
• In 2023, the US spent $27m on a new installation on Akrotiri to house its additional personnel
• In 2024, the US spent $1.2m on new security on Akrotiri
• US-UK electronic intelligence stationed at RAF Dhekelia
• US denies its use of the RAF bases because it can say it is UK territory

This is not the first time these bases have been used by the US and UK to commit heinous crimes. Previously, RAF Akrotiri has been used to launch fighter jets to attack Yemen, Iraq, and Syria.

The US have free use of the British bases and gain the benefit of refusing any accountability or transparency about just how many soldiers are there, when it is used, and what for. When questions arise, the US refuses any claims and the UK shields them.

A Cypriot working on the RAF Akrotiri told Declassified UK that “There is a big US presence, I don’t know how that works or why”

The British Ministry of Defence reported that US military personnel have been stationed at RAF Akrotiri since 1974.