France has dispatched anti-missile and anti-drone systems, including two frigates, to Cyprus after a drone strike on RAF Akrotiri exposed vulnerabilities in Britain's ability to defend its own bases. The attack, which occurred on Sunday night, saw a 'kamikaze' drone breach the base's air defences, causing what officials described as 'minimal' damage. The base houses over 3,500 British personnel and their families.
The deployment, ordered by French President Emmanuel Macron, comes amid concerns that Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, just 120 miles away, were responsible for the strike. The Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers, designed for air defence, are largely unavailable, with Defence Minister Vernon Coaker confirming in January that only three of six are operational. Reports suggest just one, HMS Duncan, is currently at sea off the UK, while the others are undergoing lengthy engine upgrades, with HMS Daring out of action for nearly nine years.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that additional defensive capabilities, including radar systems, counter-drone systems, F-35 jets, and ground-based air defence, had recently been moved to Cyprus. However, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides appealed to both Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to send naval vessels to help guard the island.
Reform UK Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's response, saying his 'failure to be a reliable ally' has strained the UK-US relationship. Speaking after Donald Trump's comments, Jenrick told Times Radio that Starmer's slow reaction to the drone attacks and inadequate use of military assets to defend the base were a cause for concern.
