By Theo Theophanous and Takis Christodoulou

Sometimes in politics and diplomacy thinking outside the box can yield results. Cyprus happens to be host to two sovereign British bases that with the assistance and support of the Cyprus government could serve as a model for President Trump’s ambitions in Greenland.

President Trump has had to alter his original plans to secure sovereignty over the whole of Greenland, potentially even by force. Negotiations for a compromise are underway, and Trump may be satisfied if he can at least gain sovereignty over the land on which American military bases are located in Greenland.

Cyprus can point out that such an arrangement is not unprecedented. Cypriots have lived with two Sovereign British Areas (SBAs) since Cyprus became independent in 1960. These two SBAs are sovereign British territory.

The UK agreed to use the SBAs mainly for military bases. Their servicing requirements are provided by local Cypriot civilians with many living and working within their boundaries. The SBAs have their own police that deal with all offences and crimes committed on the sovereign territory.

The UK insisted on sovereignty in order to retain absolute military control over this territory. This means that no risk of eviction and no permission is required from the Cyprus Republic for military actions. The UK uses its facilities to monitor unimpeded, the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and surrounding areas. The bases remain the most important RAF hub in the area.

These are precisely the features that Trump is seeking for his bases in Greenland. But Denmark and Greenland have described sovereignty as a red line that could not be crossed. This is where Cyprus can come in. Cyprus can use its good offices to persuade Denmark and Greenland as to the benefits and workability of the British bases under the right model. It might be a way to end the impasse.

There is already a US base at Pituffik that could be designated as US sovereign soil and then new sovereign bases could be added.

It’s not an easy road for Trump or for Cyprus. Some Cypriots still call for the removal of British bases even though many accept their unchangeable reality and point to benefits such as jobs for Cypriots and trade for businesses.

Many Cypriots note that the British bases did nothing to stop the Turkish invasion and occupation of the north of Cyprus in 1974. Others argue that Cyprus could be a target if Britain was involved in some conflict with countries like Iran.

Against this background, were Cyprus to offer the US support for and assistance to establish American sovereign bases in Greenland it would have to be reciprocated.  Trump is in a position to bring peace to Cyprus and gain a Nobel peace prize in the process by placing pressure on Turkey to facilitate a settlement of the Cyprus issue and to reunify Cyprus under the UN approved federation model.

Cyprus could then be allowed to join Nato which would protect Cyprus (and the British bases) from attack. It would put Cyprus on the same footing as Greece as another Nato country and legitimise Greece assisting Cyprus under Nato. It may even help Turkey’s bid to join the EU.

The British bases model in Cyprus is a way to resolve the Greenland/US bases issue. The model would allow designated American Sovereign Areas for bases under the control of the US. Arrangements similar to those that apply in Cyprus could be put in place to allow the local community to benefit with jobs, housing, as a supplier of goods and services to the bases and from enhanced security. They would form a part of Trump’s iron dome to protect the US, Greenland, Denmark and all other Nato countries.

President Trump could gain support from Cyprus in talks with Greenland and Denmark to help them understand how the arrangement of sovereign US Bases in Greenland would work; in exchange he could prioritise a solution to the Cyprus issue to add to his own peace credentials.

The US has talked about purchasing Greenland. It could offer Greenland compensation for designated sovereign bases (although by a much smaller amount than buying the whole country). This would be more likely to gain acceptance, particularly when combined with Cypriot style arrangements that build good will on both sides.

The British bases in Cyprus serve as a model of major power sovereignty in specified areas in a foreign country. It may be the only model acceptable to the Trump administration, as regards Greenland and Denmark that would also enhance Nato security.

The resolution of the Cyprus issue should form a part of US efforts to obtain sovereignty over bases in Greenland. Guarantees by Britain of security for Greek and Turkish Cypriots as part of the settlement would also demonstrate the value of major power bases in smaller countries.

Theo Theophanous is a former MP and Minister of the Victorian State Government in Melbourne, Australia and the current President of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria. Takis Christodoulou is a former MP in Johannesburg, South Africa