diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs.yml b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
index 001aca5e2..90f7d3fd5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ jobs:
   sphinx:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.0
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
       - name: Set up Python
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.1.0
         with:
           python-version: "3.14"
       - name: Install dependencies
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ jobs:
   twine-check:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.0
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
       - name: Set up Python
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.1.0
         with:
           python-version: "3.14"
       - name: Install dependencies
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yml b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
index 4148fcaeb..01bee8a33 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ jobs:
   lint:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.0
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
-      - uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@v6.1.0
         with:
           python-version: "3.14"
       - run: pip install --upgrade tox
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lock.yml b/.github/workflows/lock.yml
index 05e21065c..f6f1c6229 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lock.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lock.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,6 @@ jobs:
   action:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: dessant/lock-threads@v5.0.1
+      - uses: dessant/lock-threads@v6.0.0
         with:
           process-only: 'issues'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre_commit.yml b/.github/workflows/pre_commit.yml
index 9bc366f6d..4be228d66 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pre_commit.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre_commit.yml
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ jobs:
   pre_commit:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.0
-      - uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@v6.1.0
         with:
           python-version: "3.14"
       - name: install tox
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 2a3cc1ec7..ff04716dd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@ jobs:
       id-token: write
     environment: pypi.org
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.0
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0
         token: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
     - name: Python Semantic Release
       id: release
-      uses: python-semantic-release/python-semantic-release@v10.4.1
+      uses: python-semantic-release/python-semantic-release@v10.5.3
       with:
         github_token: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ jobs:
       if: steps.release.outputs.released == 'true'
 
     - name: Publish package distributions to GitHub Releases
-      uses: python-semantic-release/publish-action@v10.4.1
+      uses: python-semantic-release/publish-action@v10.5.3
       if: steps.release.outputs.released == 'true'
       with:
-        github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        github_token: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/stale.yml b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
index e75866b21..e4fd014a5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stale.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
   stale:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/stale@v10.1.0
+      - uses: actions/stale@v10.1.1
         with:
           operations-per-run: 500
           stale-issue-label: "stale"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 94dde7910..0f2af115e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         os: [ubuntu-latest]
         python:
-          - version: "3.9"
-            toxenv: py39,smoke
           - version: "3.10"
             toxenv: py310,smoke
           - version: "3.11"
@@ -36,21 +34,21 @@ jobs:
             toxenv: py312,smoke
           - version: "3.13"
             toxenv: py313,smoke
-          - version: "3.14.0-alpha - 3.14" # SemVer's version range syntax
+          - version: "3.14"
             toxenv: py314,smoke
         include:
           - os: macos-latest
             python:
-              version: "3.13"
-              toxenv: py313,smoke
+              version: "3.14"
+              toxenv: py314,smoke
           - os: windows-latest
             python:
-              version: "3.13"
-              toxenv: py313,smoke
+              version: "3.14"
+              toxenv: py314,smoke
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.0
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
       - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python.version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.1.0
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python.version }}
       - name: Install dependencies
@@ -67,9 +65,9 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         toxenv: [api_func_v4, cli_func_v4]
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.0
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
       - name: Set up Python
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.1.0
         with:
           python-version: "3.14"
       - name: Install dependencies
@@ -79,7 +77,7 @@ jobs:
           TOXENV: ${{ matrix.toxenv }}
         run: tox -- --override-ini='log_cli=True'
       - name: Upload codecov coverage
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@v5.5.1
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@v5.5.2
         with:
           files: ./coverage.xml
           flags: ${{ matrix.toxenv }}
@@ -89,9 +87,9 @@ jobs:
   coverage:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.0
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
       - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v6.1.0
         with:
           python-version: "3.14"
       - name: Install dependencies
@@ -102,7 +100,7 @@ jobs:
           TOXENV: cover
         run: tox
       - name: Upload codecov coverage
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@v5.5.1
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@v5.5.2
         with:
           files: ./coverage.xml
           flags: unit
@@ -113,8 +111,8 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     name: Python wheel
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.0
-    - uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
+    - uses: actions/setup-python@v6.1.0
       with:
         python-version: "3.14"
     - name: Install dependencies
@@ -122,7 +120,7 @@ jobs:
         pip install -r requirements-test.txt
     - name: Build package
       run: python -m build -o dist/
-    - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4.6.2
+    - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v6.0.0
       with:
         name: dist
         path: dist
@@ -131,12 +129,12 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: [dist]
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.0
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v6.0.1
     - name: Set up Python
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v6.1.0
       with:
         python-version: '3.14'
-    - uses: actions/download-artifact@v5.0.0
+    - uses: actions/download-artifact@v7.0.0
       with:
         name: dist
         path: dist
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 75b98ce66..79fd2c69c 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ default_language_version:
 
 repos:
   - repo: https://github.com/psf/black
-    rev: 25.9.0
+    rev: 25.12.0
     hooks:
       - id: black
   - repo: https://github.com/commitizen-tools/commitizen
-    rev: v4.9.1
+    rev: v4.11.1
     hooks:
       - id: commitizen
         stages: [commit-msg]
@@ -16,28 +16,28 @@ repos:
     hooks:
       - id: flake8
   - repo: https://github.com/pycqa/isort
-    rev: 6.1.0
+    rev: 7.0.0
     hooks:
       - id: isort
   - repo: https://github.com/pycqa/pylint
-    rev: v3.3.9
+    rev: v4.0.4
     hooks:
       - id: pylint
         additional_dependencies:
           - argcomplete==2.0.0
-          - gql==3.5.0
+          - gql==4.0.0
           - httpx==0.27.2
           - pytest==7.4.2
           - requests==2.28.1
           - requests-toolbelt==1.0.0
         files: 'gitlab/'
   - repo: https://github.com/pre-commit/mirrors-mypy
-    rev: v1.18.2
+    rev: v1.19.1
     hooks:
       - id: mypy
         args: []
         additional_dependencies:
-          - gql==3.5.0
+          - gql==4.0.0
           - httpx==0.27.2
           - jinja2==3.1.2
           - pytest==7.4.2
@@ -51,6 +51,6 @@ repos:
       - id: rst-directive-colons
       - id: rst-inline-touching-normal
   - repo: https://github.com/maxbrunet/pre-commit-renovate
-    rev: 41.146.0
+    rev: 42.71.0
     hooks:
       - id: renovate-config-validator
diff --git a/.readthedocs.yml b/.readthedocs.yml
index 2d561b88b..facdbd3f9 100644
--- a/.readthedocs.yml
+++ b/.readthedocs.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ version: 2
 build:
   os: ubuntu-22.04
   tools:
-    python: "3.11"
+    python: "3.13"
 
 sphinx:
   configuration: docs/conf.py
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f13242484..ef85c5019 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,41 @@
 
 All versions below are listed in reverse chronological order.
 
+## v7.1.0 (2025-12-28)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **utils**: Prevent negative sleep time in rate limit retry
+  ([`4221195`](https://github.com/python-gitlab/python-gitlab/commit/422119576287de30e1b70411c7ab0bbe39231af7))
+
+### Continuous Integration
+
+- **release**: Use the correct token for publish to GitHub
+  ([`614a74c`](https://github.com/python-gitlab/python-gitlab/commit/614a74c00f027f70b8e48a6b2a2ddcd3f823bffa))
+
+### Features
+
+- **registry-protection**: Add support for registry protection rule deletion
+  ([`9dd62c3`](https://github.com/python-gitlab/python-gitlab/commit/9dd62c3f5bcf3e082c2733bd4edc068f993c22ec))
+
+### Testing
+
+- **functional**: Update to GitLab 18.6 and resolve issues found
+  ([`c7c139b`](https://github.com/python-gitlab/python-gitlab/commit/c7c139b9e7823ec1800a819233aee469355ee8d1))
+
+
+## v7.0.0 (2025-10-29)
+
+### Features
+
+- Drop Python 3.9 support and add Python 3.14
+  ([`22941ac`](https://github.com/python-gitlab/python-gitlab/commit/22941acc3f331d5b683599c014ec962ece5d4b76))
+
+### Breaking Changes
+
+- As of python-gitlab 7.0.0, Python 3.9 is no longer supported. Python 3.10 or higher is required.
+
+
 ## v6.5.0 (2025-10-17)
 
 ### Bug Fixes
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 101add1eb..1b7b7ce48 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ Features
 Installation
 ------------
 
-As of 5.0.0, ``python-gitlab`` is compatible with Python 3.9+.
+As of 7.0.0, ``python-gitlab`` is compatible with Python 3.10+.
 
 Use ``pip`` to install the latest stable version of ``python-gitlab``:
 
diff --git a/gitlab/_version.py b/gitlab/_version.py
index 5c642f8f0..8305f3a6c 100644
--- a/gitlab/_version.py
+++ b/gitlab/_version.py
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 __email__ = "gauvainpocentek@gmail.com"
 __license__ = "LGPL3"
 __title__ = "python-gitlab"
-__version__ = "6.5.0"
+__version__ = "7.1.0"
diff --git a/gitlab/client.py b/gitlab/client.py
index 37dd4c2e6..a3cf1f31a 100644
--- a/gitlab/client.py
+++ b/gitlab/client.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 try:
     import gql
     import gql.transport.exceptions
-    import graphql
     import httpx
 
     from ._backends.graphql import GitlabAsyncTransport, GitlabTransport
@@ -1350,7 +1349,7 @@ def __enter__(self) -> GraphQL:
     def __exit__(self, *args: Any) -> None:
         self._http_client.close()
 
-    def execute(self, request: str | graphql.Source, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+    def execute(self, request: str, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
         parsed_document = self._gql(request)
         retry = utils.Retry(
             max_retries=self._max_retries,
@@ -1420,9 +1419,7 @@ async def __aenter__(self) -> AsyncGraphQL:
     async def __aexit__(self, *args: Any) -> None:
         await self._http_client.aclose()
 
-    async def execute(
-        self, request: str | graphql.Source, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any
-    ) -> Any:
+    async def execute(self, request: str, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
         parsed_document = self._gql(request)
         retry = utils.Retry(
             max_retries=self._max_retries,
diff --git a/gitlab/utils.py b/gitlab/utils.py
index bf37e09a5..cf1b5b7b0 100644
--- a/gitlab/utils.py
+++ b/gitlab/utils.py
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ def handle_retry_on_status(
             if "Retry-After" in headers:
                 wait_time = int(headers["Retry-After"])
             elif "RateLimit-Reset" in headers:
-                wait_time = int(headers["RateLimit-Reset"]) - time.time()
+                wait_time = max(0, int(headers["RateLimit-Reset"]) - time.time())
             self.cur_retries += 1
             time.sleep(wait_time)
             return True
diff --git a/gitlab/v4/objects/registry_protection_repository_rules.py b/gitlab/v4/objects/registry_protection_repository_rules.py
index 19d4bdf59..2a457a024 100644
--- a/gitlab/v4/objects/registry_protection_repository_rules.py
+++ b/gitlab/v4/objects/registry_protection_repository_rules.py
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 from gitlab.base import RESTObject
-from gitlab.mixins import CreateMixin, ListMixin, SaveMixin, UpdateMethod, UpdateMixin
+from gitlab.mixins import (
+    CreateMixin,
+    DeleteMixin,
+    ListMixin,
+    SaveMixin,
+    UpdateMethod,
+    UpdateMixin,
+)
 from gitlab.types import RequiredOptional
 
 __all__ = [
@@ -16,6 +23,7 @@ class ProjectRegistryRepositoryProtectionRuleManager(
     ListMixin[ProjectRegistryRepositoryProtectionRule],
     CreateMixin[ProjectRegistryRepositoryProtectionRule],
     UpdateMixin[ProjectRegistryRepositoryProtectionRule],
+    DeleteMixin[ProjectRegistryRepositoryProtectionRule],
 ):
     _path = "/projects/{project_id}/registry/protection/repository/rules"
     _obj_cls = ProjectRegistryRepositoryProtectionRule
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 5aad28aee..45e8c36f8 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ maintainers = [
     {name = "Nejc Habjan", email="nejc.habjan@siemens.com"},
     {name = "Roger Meier", email="r.meier@siemens.com"}
 ]
-requires-python = ">=3.9.0"
+requires-python = ">=3.10.0"
 dependencies = [
     "requests>=2.32.0",
     "requests-toolbelt>=1.0.0",
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@ classifiers = [
     "Operating System :: Microsoft :: Windows",
     "Programming Language :: Python",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
-    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14",
 ]
 keywords = ["api", "client", "gitlab", "python", "python-gitlab", "wrapper"]
 license = {text = "LGPL-3.0-or-later"}
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ dynamic = ["version"]
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 autocompletion = ["argcomplete>=1.10.0,<3"]
 yaml = ["PyYaml>=6.0.1"]
-graphql = ["gql[httpx]>=3.5.0,<4"]
+graphql = ["gql[httpx]>=3.5.0,<5"]
 
 [project.scripts]
 gitlab = "gitlab.cli:main"
diff --git a/requirements-docker.txt b/requirements-docker.txt
index 532609b3f..123a4438a 100644
--- a/requirements-docker.txt
+++ b/requirements-docker.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 -r requirements.txt
 -r requirements-test.txt
-pytest-docker==3.2.3
+pytest-docker==3.2.5
diff --git a/requirements-docs.txt b/requirements-docs.txt
index b83ef6dac..8d756d4f1 100644
--- a/requirements-docs.txt
+++ b/requirements-docs.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 -r requirements.txt
-furo==2025.9.25
+furo==2025.12.19
 jinja2==3.1.6
 myst-parser==4.0.1
 sphinx==8.2.3
diff --git a/requirements-lint.txt b/requirements-lint.txt
index 81ca68a17..cf8092fb1 100644
--- a/requirements-lint.txt
+++ b/requirements-lint.txt
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 -r requirements.txt
 argcomplete==2.0.0
-black==25.9.0
-commitizen==4.9.1
+black==25.12.0
+commitizen==4.11.0
 flake8==7.3.0
-isort==6.1.0
-mypy==1.18.2
-pylint==3.3.9
-pytest==8.4.2
+isort==7.0.0
+mypy==1.19.1
+pylint==4.0.4
+pytest==9.0.2
 responses==0.25.8
 respx==0.22.0
 types-PyYAML==6.0.12.20250915
 types-requests==2.32.4.20250913
-types-setuptools==80.9.0.20250822
+types-setuptools==80.9.0.20251223
diff --git a/requirements-precommit.txt b/requirements-precommit.txt
index 3ee862221..fc2379223 100644
--- a/requirements-precommit.txt
+++ b/requirements-precommit.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-pre-commit==4.3.0
+pre-commit==4.5.1
diff --git a/requirements-test.txt b/requirements-test.txt
index 369c95673..df8e6f47a 100644
--- a/requirements-test.txt
+++ b/requirements-test.txt
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 -r requirements.txt
-anyio==4.11.0
+anyio==4.12.0
 build==1.3.0
-coverage==7.10.7
+coverage==7.13.1
 pytest-console-scripts==1.4.1
 pytest-cov==7.0.0
 pytest-github-actions-annotate-failures==0.3.0
-pytest==8.4.2
+pytest==9.0.2
 PyYaml==6.0.3
 responses==0.25.8
 respx==0.22.0
-trio==0.31.0
+trio==0.32.0
 wheel==0.45.1
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 6930e5d2c..d51e14533 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-gql==3.5.3
+gql==4.0.0
 httpx==0.28.1
 requests==2.32.5
 requests-toolbelt==1.0.0
diff --git a/tests/functional/api/test_epics.py b/tests/functional/api/test_epics.py
index a4f6765da..b61e23776 100644
--- a/tests/functional/api/test_epics.py
+++ b/tests/functional/api/test_epics.py
@@ -15,18 +15,20 @@ def test_epics(group):
     assert group.epics.list()
 
 
-@pytest.mark.xfail(reason="404 on issue.id")
 def test_epic_issues(epic, issue):
     assert not epic.issues.list()
 
+    # FYI: Creating an issue causes a note to be created
     epic_issue = epic.issues.create({"issue_id": issue.id})
     assert epic.issues.list()
 
+    # FYI: Deleting an issue causes a note to be created
     epic_issue.delete()
 
 
 def test_epic_notes(epic):
-    assert not epic.notes.list()
+    notes = epic.notes.list(get_all=True)
 
     epic.notes.create({"body": "Test note"})
-    assert epic.notes.list()
+    new_notes = epic.notes.list(get_all=True)
+    assert len(new_notes) == (len(notes) + 1), f"{new_notes} {notes}"
diff --git a/tests/functional/api/test_keys.py b/tests/functional/api/test_keys.py
index 359649bef..6a2d660ed 100644
--- a/tests/functional/api/test_keys.py
+++ b/tests/functional/api/test_keys.py
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@ def test_keys_deploy(gl, project, DEPLOY_KEY):
     key_by_fingerprint = gl.keys.get(fingerprint=fingerprint)
     assert key_by_fingerprint.title == key.title
     assert key_by_fingerprint.key == key.key
-    assert len(key_by_fingerprint.deploy_keys_projects) == 1
+
+    if not any(
+        key_project.get("project_id") == project.id
+        for key_project in key_by_fingerprint.deploy_keys_projects
+    ):
+        raise AssertionError(
+            f"Project {project} not found in 'deploy_keys_projects' "
+            f"{key_by_fingerprint.pformat()}"
+        )
 
     key.delete()
diff --git a/tests/functional/api/test_project_job_token_scope.py b/tests/functional/api/test_project_job_token_scope.py
index 0d0466182..b1de0a7b2 100644
--- a/tests/functional/api/test_project_job_token_scope.py
+++ b/tests/functional/api/test_project_job_token_scope.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import pytest
+
+
 # https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/jobs/ci_job_token.html#allow-any-project-to-access-your-project
 def test_enable_limit_access_to_this_project(gl, project):
     scope = project.job_token_scope.get()
@@ -10,6 +13,7 @@ def test_enable_limit_access_to_this_project(gl, project):
     assert scope.inbound_enabled
 
 
+@pytest.mark.xfail(reason="https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/582271")
 def test_disable_limit_access_to_this_project(gl, project):
     scope = project.job_token_scope.get()
 
diff --git a/tests/functional/api/test_projects.py b/tests/functional/api/test_projects.py
index 760f95336..c56b23ec7 100644
--- a/tests/functional/api/test_projects.py
+++ b/tests/functional/api/test_projects.py
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ def test_create_project(gl, user):
 
     sudo_project = gl.projects.create({"name": "sudo_project"}, sudo=user.id)
 
-    created = gl.projects.list()
+    created = gl.projects.list(get_all=True)
     created_gen = gl.projects.list(iterator=True)
-    owned = gl.projects.list(owned=True)
+    owned = gl.projects.list(owned=True, get_all=True)
 
     assert admin_project in created and sudo_project in created
     assert admin_project in owned and sudo_project not in owned
diff --git a/tests/functional/api/test_registry.py b/tests/functional/api/test_registry.py
index 91fdceacc..d234128ca 100644
--- a/tests/functional/api/test_registry.py
+++ b/tests/functional/api/test_registry.py
@@ -26,3 +26,8 @@ def test_project_protected_registry(project: Project):
     protected_registry.minimum_access_level_for_push = "owner"
     protected_registry.save()
     assert protected_registry.minimum_access_level_for_push == "owner"
+
+    protected_registry.delete()
+
+    rules = project.registry_protection_repository_rules.list()
+    assert rules == []
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/.env b/tests/functional/fixtures/.env
index e85f85e6f..91f187a12 100644
--- a/tests/functional/fixtures/.env
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/.env
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 GITLAB_IMAGE=gitlab/gitlab-ee
-GITLAB_TAG=17.8.2-ee.0
+GITLAB_TAG=18.7.1-ee.0
 GITLAB_RUNNER_IMAGE=gitlab/gitlab-runner
 GITLAB_RUNNER_TAG=96856197
diff --git a/tests/functional/fixtures/docker-compose.yml b/tests/functional/fixtures/docker-compose.yml
index f36f3d2fd..17562d5be 100644
--- a/tests/functional/fixtures/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/tests/functional/fixtures/docker-compose.yml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ services:
     entrypoint:
       - /bin/sh
       - -c
-      - ruby /create_license.rb && /assets/wrapper
+      - ruby /create_license.rb && /assets/init-container
     volumes:
       - ${PWD}/tests/functional/fixtures/create_license.rb:/create_license.rb
     ports:
diff --git a/tests/functional/helpers.py b/tests/functional/helpers.py
index 090673bf7..9d313e540 100644
--- a/tests/functional/helpers.py
+++ b/tests/functional/helpers.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import gitlab
 import gitlab.base
 import gitlab.exceptions
+import gitlab.v4.objects
 
 SLEEP_INTERVAL = 0.5
 TIMEOUT = 60  # seconds before timeout will occur
@@ -37,6 +38,11 @@ def safe_delete(object: gitlab.base.RESTObject) -> None:
             object = manager.get(object.get_id())  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
         except gitlab.exceptions.GitlabGetError:
             return
+        # If object is already marked for deletion we have succeeded
+        if getattr(object, "marked_for_deletion_on", None) is not None:
+            # 'Group' and 'Project' objects have a 'marked_for_deletion_on' attribute
+            logging.info(f"{object!r} is marked for deletion.")
+            return
 
         if index:
             logging.info(f"Attempt {index + 1} to delete {object!r}.")
@@ -52,22 +58,16 @@ def safe_delete(object: gitlab.base.RESTObject) -> None:
                     # we shouldn't cause test to fail if it still exists
                     return
             elif isinstance(object, gitlab.v4.objects.Project):
-                # Immediately delete rather than waiting for at least 1day
-                # https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/projects.html#delete-project
-                object.delete(permanently_remove=True)
-                pass
+                # Starting in GitLab 18, projects can't be immediately deleted.
+                # So this will mark it for deletion.
+                object.delete()
             else:
                 # We only attempt to delete parent groups to prevent dangling sub-groups
-                # However parent groups can only be deleted on a delay in Gl 16
+                # However parent groups can only be deleted on a delay in GitLab 16
                 # https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/groups.html#remove-group
                 object.delete()
         except gitlab.exceptions.GitlabDeleteError:
-            logging.info(f"{object!r} already deleted or scheduled for deletion.")
-            if isinstance(object, gitlab.v4.objects.Group):
-                # Parent groups can never be immediately deleted in GL 16,
-                # so don't cause test to fail if it still exists
-                return
-            pass
+            logging.exception(f"Error attempting to delete: {object.pformat()}")
 
         time.sleep(SLEEP_INTERVAL)
     pytest.fail(f"{object!r} was not deleted")
diff --git a/tests/unit/objects/test_registry_protection_rules.py b/tests/unit/objects/test_registry_protection_rules.py
index 3078278f5..3e9db414a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/objects/test_registry_protection_rules.py
+++ b/tests/unit/objects/test_registry_protection_rules.py
@@ -58,6 +58,17 @@ def resp_update_protected_registry():
         yield rsps
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def resp_delete_protected_registry():
+    with responses.RequestsMock() as rsps:
+        rsps.add(
+            method=responses.DELETE,
+            url="http://localhost/api/v4/projects/1/registry/protection/repository/rules/1",
+            status=204,
+        )
+        yield rsps
+
+
 def test_list_project_protected_registries(project, resp_list_protected_registries):
     protected_registry = project.registry_protection_repository_rules.list()[0]
     assert isinstance(protected_registry, ProjectRegistryRepositoryProtectionRule)
@@ -80,3 +91,7 @@ def test_update_project_protected_registry(project, resp_update_protected_regist
         1, {"repository_path_pattern": "abc*"}
     )
     assert updated["repository_path_pattern"] == "abc*"
+
+
+def test_delete_project_protected_registry(project, resp_delete_protected_registry):
+    project.registry_protection_repository_rules.delete(1)
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 05a15c6c4..0ba295692 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
 minversion = 4.0
 skipsdist = True
 skip_missing_interpreters = True
-envlist = py313,py312,py311,py310,py39,black,isort,flake8,mypy,twine-check,cz,pylint
+envlist = py314,py313,py312,py311,py310,black,isort,flake8,mypy,twine-check,cz,pylint
 
 # NOTE(jlvillal): To use a label use the `-m` flag.
 # For example to run the `func` label group of environments do:
 #   tox -m func
 labels =
     lint = black,isort,flake8,mypy,pylint,cz
-    unit = py313,py312,py311,py310,py39,py38
+    unit = py314,py313,py312,py311,py310
 # func is the functional tests. This is very time consuming.
     func = cli_func_v4,api_func_v4