France and Cyprus Sign Status of Forces Agreement in Nicosia

France and Cyprus signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in Nicosia on June 8, 2026. The pact, signed by French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin and Cypriot Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas during an informal EU defence ministers' meeting, establishes the legal framework for the presence and operation of military forces from both nations on each other's territory.

The French Republic will now have access to military bases and infrastructure in southern Cyprus to support humanitarian operations and strategic activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. The agreement includes provisions for joint exercises, military technology sharing, and strategic dialogue. This deal follows a December 2025 strategic partnership and a March 2026 incident involving an Iranian-made drone targeting British sovereign bases on the island.

President Nikos Christodoulides stated the agreement strengthens bilateral ties and supports the European Union's goal of strategic autonomy. However, the agreement drew sharp condemnation from the Turkish Cypriot administration. Prime Minister Unal Ustel rejected the pact as null and void, calling the deployment of French forces an unacceptable and provocative step that ignores the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people.