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Britain said its Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus would not be involved in ‌its defensive agreement with the United States to use ​UK bases, after a ‌call on Saturday between Prime Minister Keir Starmer ‌and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. The ‌UK government gave authorisation ‌on Friday for the US to use RAF Fairford in England and Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean, to carry out defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. “RAF Akrotiri would not be involved in the UK’s continuation of its agreement with the US to use UK bases in ​collective self defence of the region,” a spokesperson for Starmer’s office said in a British readout of the call with Christodoulides. An Iranian-type ‌Shahed drone caused slight damage on March ​2 when it hit facilities at the Akrotiri airbase ​in southern Cyprus, with two others later intercepted. There have been no further known security incidents on the island, where Britain retained sovereignty over two bases when it granted its former colony independence in 1960. A Cypriot government spokesperson said in a statement that Starmer had reiterated “that the security of the Republic of Cyprus is fundamental to the United Kingdom and, to that end, a decision has ‌been taken to enhance ‌the means contributing to the preventive measures already in place”. “Finally, the Prime Minister reiterated that the British Bases in Cyprus will not be used for any offensive military operations,” the Cypriot government spokesperson added.Separately, a source at Britain’s defence ministry said an Iranian ballistic missile attack towards Diego Garcia had occurred before the UK gave the US its latest authorisation. British ​Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told British media on Saturday that the government’s policy on the US-Israeli-war on Iran remained defensive. “We will provide defensive support against these reckless Iranian threats, but we have not been and we continue not to be involved in offensive action and we want to see the swiftest possible resolution,” she said. “We will not be drawn into a ‌wider conflict,” ​she added. 

Her Excellency Minister of State for International Co-operation Dr Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad met in Nicosia Monday with Deputy Minister of Culture of Cyprus Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou. The meeting discussed co-operation between the countries and ways to support and strengthen them, as well as discussing a number of topics of mutual interest. 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received on Sunday a phone call from the President of the Republic of Cyprus Dr. Nikos Christodoulides.During the call, the President of Cyprus expressed his country's solidarity with the State of Qatar and its strong condemnation of the Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings, stressing that such an act constitutes a flagrant violation of international laws and norms and poses a serious threat to the security of the State of Qatar and the countries of the region.For his part, His Highness the Amir affirmed that the State of Qatar will take all necessary measures to safeguard its security and sovereignty in the face of the treacherous Israeli attack. His Highness expressed gratitude to the President of Cyprus for his sincere sentiments and for Cyprus's valued solidarity with Qatar and its people.

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani met Monday at the Amiri Diwan with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Constantinos Kombos, who is visiting the country.The two sides discussed co-operation between the two countries and ways to support and develop it. They also discussed enhancing economic partnership, especially in the energy field, in addition to other topics of mutual interest.

HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, met in Doha Monday Giorgos Papanastasiou, Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry of the Republic of Cyprus.Discussions during the meeting dealt with energy relations and co-operation between Qatar and Cyprus and means to enhance them.