Same-sex marriage in Akrotiri and Dhekelia

The United Kingdom sought to retain sovereignty over the areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia as this guaranteed the use of UK military bases on the island of Cyprus.

The bases are at a strategic location, being at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea and close to the Middle East and the Suez Canal.

Some laws of the United Kingdom are also directly applicable to Akrotiri and Dhekelia or have been extended by an Order in Council.

[4] On 28 April 2014, the Privy Council of the United Kingdom enacted the Overseas Marriage (Armed Forces) Order 2014, which took effect on 3 June 2014.

One of the parties must be a member of the British Armed Forces, or be a person who performs "administrative, executive, judicial, clerical, typing, duplicating, machine operating, paper keeping, managerial, professional, scientific, experimental, technical, industrial or labouring functions" for the Armed Forces, serving in the territory.

[7][8] The United Reformed Church has allowed its congregations to perform same-sex marriages since 2016,[9] and has a reverend stationed in Dhekelia.