Coordinates: 34°35′N 32°59′E / 34.583°N 32.983°E
Akrotiri and Dhekelia are two British overseas territories that border the Republic of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus. They are used as military bases by the United Kingdom. The bases were kept by the United Kingdom after Cyprus changed from being a colony in the British Empire, to being an independent republic. The United Kingdom kept them because of the important location of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea.