Cyprus and France Sign Agreement Allowing French Forces on Island

Cyprus and France signed an agreement on June 8 allowing French forces on Cypriot territory. The signing took place in Nicosia during an informal meeting of European defense ministers held under Cyprus's presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The agreement builds on an earlier announcement made during a visit to the island in April. At that time, officials from both countries stated they were developing a framework for hosting French forces to support humanitarian operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.

Background to the Agreement Cyprus hosts two British sovereign base areas on its southern coast. Paris deployed defensive military capabilities to Cyprus after Iranian drones targeted the island, including British facilities, in March. France has previously used Cyprus as a staging point for evacuation and humanitarian missions connected to conflicts in the Middle East.

The Cypriot president stated on X that the agreement would strengthen bilateral defense ties and support the European Union's goal of greater strategic autonomy.