"In a recorded TV address on Sunday evening, Sir Keir Starmer said he had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites, adding British lives had been put at risk. On Tuesday, the government said it would scramble a warship, HMS Dragon, to the region."
"But the intended display of naval might has yet to take place, with the warship still in Portsmouth where it is expected to remain until at least next week. Its a delay that has left MoD officials fuming and exposed previous financially-motivated decisions over staff funding including agreements with contractors to not work out of hours."
"Under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, which handed independence to Cyprus, the UK has a legal obligation to ensure the island's security. But the Cypriot government has said it was disappointed in Britain, and has been forced to draft in help from France."
Following a drone strike on a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus, the UK shifted its approach to the US-Iran conflict. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer agreed to allow defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites from British military bases, citing risks to British lives. The government announced deploying HMS Dragon to the region, but the warship remained in Portsmouth with no immediate deployment expected. This delay frustrated Ministry of Defence officials and revealed underlying problems with military readiness, including contractor agreements limiting out-of-hours work. Under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, Britain has legal obligations to protect Cyprus's security, yet the Cypriot government expressed disappointment and sought assistance from France.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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