UK considers sending Royal Navy warship to Cyprus

The UK government is considering whether to send a Royal Navy warship to the Mediterranean to increase security around RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

HMS Duncan, a Type 45 Destroyer, could be dispatched to the region after criticism from the Cypriot government about a lack of air defence as the Middle East war continues to spiral.

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".

While defence sources have said a final decision has not yet been made, it is understood HMS Duncan is being prepared for a possible deployment.

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.

If deployed a Type 45 destroyer 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 after the base was hit by a drone.

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 also defended his decision not to join in with the wave of strikes by the US and Israel on Iran at the weekend - a move which drew criticism from Donald Trump.

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."

Although it is yet to be confirmed that HMS Duncan might be deployed, the warship recently took part in a 72-hour training exercise off the coast of Wales.

The Royal Navy said last Thursday that the Portsmouth-based HMS Duncan faced "attacks from swarms of surface and aerial drones moving up to 200mph (321km/h)".

HMS Duncan also faced virtual missiles to "ensure the ship is ready to defend against whatever modern naval threat is thrown against her".