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A Royal Navy warship ordered to reinforce British defences in Cyprus after an Iranian-linked strike has still not reached the region, sparking criticism from military experts and politicians who say the delay shows the UK was not prepared for the escalating conflict.
The destroyer HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy’s most advanced air-defence warships, remains docked in Portsmouth despite being announced as part of the response to a drone attack near RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus earlier this week. The base, one of Britain’s most important overseas military sites, was targeted as tensions linked to the Iran war spread across the Middle East.
The government announced that the Type-45 destroyer would be sent to the eastern Mediterranean to strengthen air defences around Cyprus after the strike raised fears that British bases could be hit again. However, the vessel is not expected to sail until at least next week because it was undergoing maintenance and resupply work at the time the order was given.
Officials said the ship had recently come out of refit and needed to be rearmed and prepared before deployment, including loading missiles and completing technical checks. Defence sources also indicated that staffing arrangements and contractor schedules meant some work could not be completed as quickly as expected.
The delay has frustrated some Ministry of Defence figures, with one former senior officer saying the crisis should not have come as a surprise.
“You could see the build-up in the region for weeks. We should have seen this coming,” one defence analyst said, arguing that the navy should have had a ship ready to deploy sooner.
The situation has highlighted wider concerns about the size and readiness of the Royal Navy fleet. Britain has six Type-45 destroyers, but only a small number are available for immediate deployment at any time, with others in maintenance or training.
Experts say the UK has reduced its permanent naval presence in the Gulf in recent years, meaning ships must now travel from Britain when a crisis begins, which can take days or even weeks. Some former commanders have warned that scaling back overseas deployments has left the country slower to respond to sudden conflicts.
Under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, Britain has security responsibilities linked to Cyprus, making the protection of the island and its military bases especially sensitive during the current war. Cypriot officials have reportedly expressed disappointment at the slow response, with other allies moving equipment into the region more quickly.
The deployment was ordered after the UK agreed to support defensive operations linked to the U.S. campaign against Iran, raising the risk that British bases could become targets. RAF jets, radar systems, and counter-drone teams have already been sent to the region, but the absence of a naval escort has drawn criticism.
Defence officials insist the delay does not mean Britain is unprepared, saying the navy is working “as fast as possible” to get the destroyer ready while ensuring the ship is fully equipped before sailing.
However, with the conflict continuing to escalate and attacks spreading across the Middle East, the slow arrival of the warship has become a symbol of the pressure facing the UK’s armed forces as they try to respond to a rapidly growing crisis.
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