Cypriot progressive party warns president against nato membership amid rising regional military tensions

Cyprus's Akel party opposes President Christodoulides's NATO plans, warning that joining the alliance during the Iran conflict endangers national security.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 7, 2026, 3:48 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Morning Star

Opposition to NATO Accession Plans

The Progressive Party of Working People, known as Akel, formally called on President Nikos Christodoulides to abandon his preparations for Cyprus to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In a response to the president's recent interview with the Greek television station SKAI, the party characterized his insistence on NATO membership as problematic from every perspective. As the second largest party in the Cypriot parliament, Akel emphasized that the president did not include this policy in his original electoral platform, raising questions regarding the democratic mandate for such a significant shift in foreign policy.

Security Concerns and Regional Instability

Akel leaders argued that joining the military alliance would not address the primary security threat faced by the Republic of Cyprus, which they identified as the occupation and aggression of Turkey, itself a longstanding NATO member. The party further warned that such a move would lead to a definitive breakdown in relations with other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. By pursuing membership in what they described as an aggressive military alliance, the opposition claims the government is heightening the risk of the country being targeted during the ongoing regional hostilities.

Impact of British Military Bases

The debate over NATO membership is intensified by the current use of British sovereign base areas on the island, including RAF Akrotiri, for military operations. The British government has allowed the United States to utilize these facilities to launch air raids against targets in Iran. Critics of the government's stance argue that the presence of these bases already endangers Cyprus by potentially dragging it into the wider conflict. They pointed to the high civilian toll of recent bombings as evidence of the humanitarian risks associated with aligned military action in the region.