5 hours ago
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Thomas Mackintoshand Jonathan Beale,Defence correspondent
AFP via Getty Images
HMS Dragon is one of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 air defence destroyers
The UK government will deploy a Royal Navy warship to the Mediterranean to bolster security around RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Sir Keir Starmer said HMS Dragon - a Type 45 Destroyer - will be sent to the region following criticism from the Cypriot government about a lack of air defence as the Middle East war continues to spiral.
The prime minister said he had spoken with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to let him know the UK is also "sending helicopters with counter drone capabilities".
It comes a day after the runway of the British air base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, was hit by a drone - causing what the Ministry of Defence (MoD) described as "minimal damage".
The Royal Navy has six Type 45 Destroyers, with three of those at various stages of readiness and the other three in maintenance and currently unavailable.
Currently, the Royal Navy has no major warship in the Mediterranean region.
Earlier on Tuesday, it had been speculated that HMS Duncan might be deployed to the area, however Starmer confirmed on X that HMS Dragon would be sent.
"The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there," Starmer said on X.
"We will always act in the interest of the UK and our allies."
According to the Royal Navy's website, HMS Dragon will leave its base at Portsmouth at 22:15 on Tuesday night.
HMS Dragon would likely be used to strengthen the air defences around RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus - which has already been targeted by Iranian drones.
While the MoD has said the base already had some ground based air defence and counter drone systems, there are questions as to whether it is sufficient.
On Tuesday, Downing Street said the UK had sent a "significant level of defensive capability" to RAF Akrotiri.
It follows reports that France plans to move air defence systems to the island.
The French Army told the BBC its armed forces are "constantly adapting their posture in response to threats" and are deploying all air and maritime assets in the area.
"They are acting in coordination with our regional partners with a view to contributing to regional stability, in particular under existing defence agreements," the French Army spokesperson said.
Asked if the prospect of France sending warships to the region to defend the UK's base was embarrassing, the prime minister's official spokesman said he would not comment on other countries.
He said: "I think we have set out multiple times the assets, the capabilities that we have deployed defensively to the region and that includes radar systems, air defence and F-35 jets.
"That is a significant level of defensive capability to our bases in Cyprus."
On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer told the House of Commons that the drone strike on RAF Akrotiri was "not in response to any decision that we have taken" and that it was launched before the UK announced it would allow the US to use its bases.
"The bases in Cyprus are not being used and are not going to be used by the US," Starmer told Parliament.
"I hear the question, "Why not?" The answer is that they are not suitable," Starmer replied.
Starmer said: "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest. That is what I've done, and I stand by it."
However, Starmer added: "It is clear that Iran's outrageous response has become a threat to our people, our interests, and our allies and it cannot be ignored."
