Place
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Overview
Akrotiri and Dhekelia ( AK-row-TIER-ee and dih-KAY-lee-ə), officially the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBAs), is a British Overseas Territory that consists of two separate areas on the island of Cyprus. The areas, which include British military bases and installations that were formerly part of the Crown colony of Cyprus, were retained by the British under the 1960 treaty of independence signed by the United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey, the president of Cyprus and the representative of the Turkish Cypriot community.
British Forces Cyprus are stationed on this territory, including Ayios Nikolaos Station for signals intelligence.
Despite being under British control, Akrotiri and Dhekelia are integrated with the surrounding Cypriot communities and economies. The areas are notable for their strategic geopolitical value and rich environmental features, including the Akrotiri Salt Lake, a protected wetland. Education, policing, and healthcare services are provided in coordination with the Republic of Cyprus. The SBAs also play a significant role in intelligence and communications operations across the Eastern Mediterranean. Although not part of the European Union post-Brexit, the areas continue to be governed by protocols that align with certain EU laws to avoid disrupting the daily lives of residents.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Place in the tradition
Part of Greek language.