HMS Dragon to begin defending Cyprus tonight after arrival in east Mediterranean
British warship HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean and will begin its operations to support Cyprus tonight, the Defence Secretary has confirmed.
The announcement comes a full three weeks after an Iranian drone struck RAF Akrotiri on the island.
Navy forces rushed to prepare the ship for launch amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, following criticism over a perceived lack of preparation.
John Healey told MPs this afternoon: ‘I can confirm that HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean, and tonight begins operational integration into Cyprus’s defence alongside allies.’
The destroyer left from Portsmouth on March 10 after undergoing a six-day refit which would have taken six weeks under typical circumstances.
Ships from France, Greece and Italy have been involved in the protection of Cyprus while the British destroyer travelled there.
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In an appearance before a parliamentary committee today, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hit back at suggestions the island – which is home to the British Overseas Territory of Akrotiri and Dhekelia – was left unprotected by the UK.
He said: ‘We’ve got a lot of defensive capability in Cyprus, including the air capability there.
‘I’ve been constantly talking to the Cypriots about this, I was on the phone yet again to the President on Saturday at some great length.
‘His assessment, the same as my assessment, is that our two military teams are working as closely as they have ever worked now, and we are absolutely determined to do everything we need to do to defend Cyprus.’
Downing Street confirmed Starmer had spoken to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on Saturday morning.
An official readout said the PM ‘reiterated that RAF Akrotiri would not be involved in the UK’s continuation of its agreement with the US to use UK bases in collective self defence of the region’.
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