Finance
UK planning to send warship to defend cyprus military base, times newspaper says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 3, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 3, 2026
Quick Summary
Britain plans to dispatch the destroyer HMS Duncan to the Eastern Mediterranean to bolster defenses at its RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus following an Iranian‑made drone strike, amid wider defensive deployments including radar systems, F‑35 jets and French anti‑aircraft support.
UK yet to decide on sending warship to defend Cyprus base
Britain Considers Military Response After Drone Strike
LONDON, March 3 (Reuters) - Britain has yet to decide whether it will send a warship to defend its Royal Air Force Akrotiri base in Cyprus, a source close to the matter said on Tuesday after the Times newspaper reported ministers had discussed such a deployment.
Details of the Drone Strike
An Iranian-made drone strike hit a runway at the Akrotiri base in the early hours of Monday. Britain has said UK assets were targeted by Iran.
Government Discussions and Media Reports
Times Newspaper Report
The Times report, citing three sources, said defence minister John Healey had a meeting on Tuesday with senior military figures, in which they discussed sending HMS Duncan to the region.
Ministry of Defence Response
The Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.
International Reactions
French Support for Cyprus
Earlier on Tuesday, the semi-official Cyprus News Agency (CNA) said France plans to send anti-missile and anti-drone systems to Cyprus.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Sarah Young and Elizabeth Piper, writing by Sam Tabahriti; editing by William James)
Key Takeaways
- •The UK is preparing to send HMS Duncan to defend RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after an Iranian‑made drone hit the runway on March 2, causing minimal damage but prompting escalated defensive measures. (Reuters via user content and Times report; complemented by context from Reuters/Times referencing meeting on March 3.)
- •In addition to the warship, the UK has bolstered Akrotiri with enhanced air defenses—radar, counter‑drone systems, and F‑35 jets—and allowed US use of British bases in the region solely for defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites. (Time; Guardian; Starmer statements) (time.com)
- •France is also stepping in by planning to send anti‑missile and anti‑drone systems to Cyprus, reinforcing the island’s defenses amid heightened regional tensions. (Cyprus News Agency report; contextualized by Defence Redefined’s 2025 Cyprus‑France Mistral deal) (thetimes.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about UK planning to send warship to defend Cyprus military base, Times newspaper says
1Why is the UK sending a warship to Cyprus?
The UK plans to send a warship to defend its RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus following an Iranian drone strike.
2Which UK military base was targeted by the attack?
An Iranian-made drone struck the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus.
3What actions are France taking in response to the situation?
France plans to send anti-missile and anti-drone systems to Cyprus, according to the Cyprus News Agency.
4Has the UK made an official comment regarding the deployment?
The UK Ministry of Defence has not immediately responded to requests for comment on the report.
