Cyprus president Nikos Christodoulides said the island's two British military bases are a legacy of colonial rule and called for an open review of their status once the Middle East crisis eases.
He made the remarks as he arrived in Brussels for an EU leaders' summit, signalling that talks with London will be on the agenda in due course.
Under the 1960 treaty that granted Cyprus independence, the UK retained sovereignty over the bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
The sites together cover about 98 square miles (254 sq km) and remain an important source of local jobs.
The issue gained fresh urgency after a recent drone attack on RAF Akrotiri, which followed the outbreak of wider hostilities involving the US, Israel and Iran.
Two drones were intercepted and a third struck the base, causing minimal damage.
Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, is believed to have launched the drones.
Demonstrators on Cyprus have argued the British presence makes the island a target.
The UK dispatched additional military assets in response, including the frigate HMS Dragon, and says it has increased its defensive footprint on the island.
London has also authorised US use of the bases for narrowly defined defensive operations, though the sites were not being used for US strikes against Iran.
Christodoulides stressed Cyprus's responsibility for the more than 10,000 Cypriot workers employed at the bases, and said his government already has a defined position on their future.
He declined to discuss negotiation details in public.
London's Ministry of Defence pointed to Defence Secretary John Healey's recent statement that military cooperation with Cyprus is stronger than ever.
Nato partners including the US, France, Greece and Germany have supported the UK's stepped-up presence, with several allied ships also sent to the area.
The incident has intensified long-running debate on the island about the role and footprint of foreign military installations, and sets the stage for formal talks between Nicosia and London when regional tensions subside.
