Visit during Middle East crisis
UK Minister of State for Europe Stephen Doughty is travelling to Cyprus on Wednesday amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the wider Middle East and ongoing developments in the Cyprus issue.
According to information, his programme includes a visit to the British base at RAF Akrotiri before heading to Nicosia for political meetings.
Meetings with Cypriot officials
During his stay, Doughty is expected to meet Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, House President and DISY leader Annita Demetriou, and AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou.
The visit comes days after a drone attack involving an Iranian-made UAV targeted the Akrotiri base on 2 March, while the conflict in the Middle East remains ongoing.
Second British visit since war began
This marks the second visit by a British official to the island since the start of the war. On 5 March, UK Defence Secretary John Healey also travelled to Cyprus.
The United Kingdom has reinforced its presence in the region, deploying military assets including the destroyer HMS Dragon, the support ship RFA Lyme Bay, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, and specialised personnel to coordinate air defence at the bases.
Security priority for Cyprus
Doughty has repeatedly told the UK Parliament that he remains in regular contact with the Cypriot foreign minister and that the safety of Cypriots is a top priority for the British government.
He recently met representatives of the Cypriot diaspora in London, stating that anti-missile and counter-drone capabilities at the bases have been strengthened both before and after the recent attack. He also noted that ways are being examined to improve real-time information sharing with residents living near the bases.
Key UK contact on Cyprus issue
Doughty is the main UK interlocutor on the Cyprus problem and the British official most directly involved in the issue.
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