HMS Dragon: The British warship in no rush to reach the war is STILL in Gibraltar

The UK was branded ‘irrelevant’ when it emerged HMS Dragon would not reach Cypriot waters until next Monday at the earliest – three weeks after a drone crashed into the UK base on the island.

The Type 45 Destroyer was spotted anchored in Gibraltar yesterday, approximately 2,200 miles from its intended target, after departing Portsmouth a week ago.

Sources told the Daily Mail that the plane, which was traveling below 15 knots, would not arrive before next week in response to Iran’s attack on RAF Akrotiri on March 2.

Politicians and former Navy commanders have criticized Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for failing to prepare for the looming war with Iran for months.

Israeli Knesset member Dan Illouz said: ‘The way the Starmer government has behaved has made them irrelevant in the free world.

‘If Britain were too hesitant to project power and protect its own assets, its importance and credibility as an ally with the rest of the free world would be deeply compromised.’

Former Navy commander Tom Sharpe said the Government ‘should have foreseen this’.

Referring to HMS Dragon he said: ‘She was sent to look after Akrotiri when she was hit. He should have been there before the war started. Or if not then, if something happens, to rush out the door and get there.’

He finally left Portsmouth a week ago. However, the Type 45 Destroyer is sailing below 15 knots and will not arrive until next week

Former US Deputy National Security Advisor Victoria Coates said that what happened in the Starmer government was ‘sad’.

‘Starmer seems to be doing his best to make himself relevant,’ he said.

‘He is more interested in international law than British sovereignty.’

Britain has become a laughing stock in Cyprus, with a Government official joking to the Daily Mail: ‘Frankly you’re in no rush.’

Another diplomat on the island said the warship’s ‘compass appeared confused’ after it was spotted in Gibraltar.

It took a week for HMS Dragon to sail in response to the drone attack, while France, Greece and Italy sent warships to the defense of Cyprus, despite it being the British base that was hit.

Britain has held Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) in Akrotiri and Dhekelia since Cyprus gained independence in 1960. These are British Overseas Territories, meaning the UK pays no rent.

Britain argues that Britain’s military presence protects Cypriots from threats in the Middle East and from Türkiye, which invaded Northern Cyprus in 1974.

However, the drone attack on 2 March and the UK’s slow response increased the perception that the bases would only endanger the people of Cyprus.

Vera Polycarpou of the opposition party AKEL said: ‘People now doubt whether there is any benefit to Cyprus having bases here.’

Locals are also angry that Britain still hasn’t sent a single warship. Nicholas Andreou, 35, an engineer from Zakaki, near Akrotiri, said: ‘It’s frustrating. What’s happening now is happening because of your base. ‘Cyprus is in danger because of the British base.’

Andreas, 33, from Akrotiri, said: ‘People here have problems with the British. ‘The British don’t know how to behave anymore.’

The statement came after US President Donald Trump criticized the UK on Monday, saying it “needs to be enthusiastically involved”.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said Britain’s defense and security ‘cannot be outsourced’.

He added: ‘The government’s inability to get a single warship into the region for three weeks following an attack on one of our bases is symptomatic of Starmer’s approach to this conflict; This leaves our allies responsible for protecting British interests and assets.’

A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: ‘To play a vital role in protecting the UK’s assets and interests in the Middle East, we have deployed HMS Dragon, equipped with the state-of-the-art Sea Viper missile system capable of destroying drones and missiles.

‘This is one element of our broader approach.’