Allies ship warships to Cyprus as Royal Navy faces additional embarrassment and are left behind
The Royal Navy faced further embarrassment on Thursday as more European countries sent warships to the eastern Mediterranean that will arrive before Britain’s HMS Dragon.
Military minnows the Netherlands and Spain confirmed their frigates will protect Cyprus, where the RAF Akrotiri base remains vulnerable. France, Italy and Greece are also dispatching warships.
Emmanuel Macron has confirmed his country’s aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle will be re-routed from the Baltic to Cypriot waters. The French frigate the Languedoc, equipped with anti-missile and anti-drone systems, will also deploy.
While a pair of Wildcat helicopters are expected to arrive in the region on Friday, the most significant British reinforcement to land in Cyprus was the Defence Secretary John Healey accompanied by a journalist from Labour’s favourite newspaper The Guardian.
Mr Healey refused to rule out British troops being drawn into the US and Israel‘s attacks on Iran, but would not speculate on future commitments as he visited RAF Akrotiri.
He was forced to take cover as another warning of Iranian drones was sounded – following an attack on the base on Sunday evening. According to Cypriot officials, this attack, which damaged the runway and a hangar, was carried out by Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. They appeared to be targeting US bombers in a separate part of the base.
Mr Healey said: ‘It is the nature of conflict that you never know what might develop and we are hugely strengthening our defences.’
Mr Healey flew from the UK overnight following intense criticism from the Cypriot government and Middle East allies over Britain’s response to the Iran crisis.
The most significant British reinforcement to land in Cyprus was the Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured on March 5 in Akrotiri, Cyprus)
Spain confirmed on Thursday its most advanced warship, the frigate Cristobal Colon (pictured on March 5) will join the task force
On the BBC’s Newsnight programme, Cypriot high commissioner Dr Kriacos Kouros criticised the level of information sharing with residents after the attack on RAF Akrotiti. He said: ‘The people are disappointed. The people are scared. The people could expect more.’
Spain confirmed on Thursday its most advanced warship, the frigate Cristobal Colon will join the task force. The Netherlands also is expected to deploy its air defence and command frigate Evertsen.
French president Emmanuel Macron said France, Italy and Greece will ‘co-ordinate the dispatch of military assets’ to Cyprus. Britain’s destroyer Dragon is not due to sail until next week.
