Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia | |
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Seal | |
| Anthem: "God Save the King" | |
Location of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (deep pink) | |
Location of Akrotiri (southwest) and Dhekelia (southeast) in deep pink on Cyprus | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Treaty of Establishment | 16 August 1960 |
| Capital | Episkopi Cantonment |
| Largest civilian settlement | Akrotiri |
| Official languages | English |
| Common languages | Cypriot Greek • Cypriot Turkish |
| Government | De facto stratocratic dependency under a constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Charles III |
• Administrator (as Commander of the British Forces Cyprus) | Major General Tom Bewick ex officio |
| Government of the United Kingdom | |
• Minister | Stephen Doughty |
| Area | |
• Total | 254 km2 (98 sq mi) |
• Akrotiri | 123 km2 (47 sq mi) |
• Dhekelia | 131 km2 (51 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2020 estimate | 18,195 (not ranked) |
| Currency | Euro (€) (EUR) |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) |
| Driving side | Left |
| Calling code | +357 |
| Postal codes in Cyprus UK postcode | 4640 (Akrotiri) 7502 (Dhekelia) BFPO 57 / BF1 2AT (Akrotiri) BFPO 58 / BF1 2AU (Dhekelia) |
Akrotiri and Dhekelia (/ˌækroʊˈtɪəri ənd dɪˈkeɪli.ə/ 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.