The British warship HMS Dragon departed for the Eastern Mediterranean last Tuesday, more than a week after Britain’s air base in Cyprus was attacked by a drone following US and Israeli strikes against Iran. The British government has faced criticism for failing to deploy a warship to the region earlier, with military vessels from allies Greece and France arriving within days of Iran launching retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.
On March 1st, the Akrotiri Air Base in Cyprus was struck by an Iranian-made drone, believed to have been launched from Lebanon or Iraq. The decision to deploy the destroyer was made a week ago, but it took several days to prepare for departure, intensifying scrutiny of Britain’s military readiness.
The British government defended its response, stating it had pre-deployed other assets to the region, including radar systems, air defense, and F-35 aircraft. HMS Dragon is a Type 45 air defense destroyer equipped with the Sea Viper missile system and advanced radar designed to track and neutralize aerial threats, according to the Royal Navy website.
Trump’s criticism of Starmer
The British government has also cited its close cooperation with the United States in preparation and response to the conflict, despite Trump’s criticism of Britain’s support.
Trump has criticized Keir Starmer for limiting Britain’s military support for strikes on Iran, plunging the relationship between the historically close military allies into crisis.
Starmer has allowed the US to use British bases for defensive actions, but has stated he would not approve UK participation in offensive actions unless he was certain they were legal and part of a clear plan.
