Britain’s only warship deployed to the eastern Mediterranean during the conflict with Iran has entered port on a ‘technical’ issue, abruptly sidelining a key part of Britain’s regional military presence as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s handling of the crisis.
The docking of the HMS Dragon – a Type 45 destroyer charged with defending British assets and projecting force near the conflict zone – weakens Britain’s visible military posture at a sensitive time, as a fragile US-brokered pause takes hold and criticism from Trump officials and conservative voices builds on delays and restrictions that they say have damaged London’s credibility with allies.
HMS Dragon faced problems with its ‘onboard water systems’, which affected the water supply for sailors on board. The Daily Mail first reported.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discusses defense spending and naval capabilities, pictured next to the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon (D35) with its distinctive red dragon arch art. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images; Phby Jaimi Joy-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“HMS Dragon is conducting a routine logistics stop and short maintenance period in the Eastern Mediterranean, allowing the ship to take on supplies, optimize systems and conduct maintenance,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement to the broadcaster.
The ministry said this in a statement to the government Daily mail that the ship can “set sail at short notice” if necessary.
“The UK continues to maintain a robust and multi-layered defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, working with allies. This includes Typhoon and F-35 jets, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters and advanced counter-drone and air defense systems.”
While the war against Iran began on February 28, Britain only announced the deployment of HMS Dragon to protect its air bases in Cyprus five days later. The announcement came a day after the Iran-backed militia group Hezbollah attacked RAF Akrotiri, one of the British air bases in Cyprus. HMS Dragon did not depart Portsmouth, England, until March 10, a week after Starmer’s announcement.
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The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is seen moored in the Royal Navy Dockyard in Portsmouth, England on October 28, 2024. Keir Starmer confirmed on 3 March 2026 that HMS Dragon would be deployed to Cyprus. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Trump and Starmer have been at odds since the beginning of the conflict. While Britain has allowed the US military to operate from these bases, Starmer has restricted the US military from conducting offensive missions from its bases. Trump compared Starmer’s approach to Iran to former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who pursued an appeasement policy toward Nazi Germany during World War II.
At a news conference Wednesday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called on “so-called allies,” referring to the United Kingdom, to “take notes” on what the US and Israel have achieved.
Criticism of Starmer’s dealings with Iran also comes from Britain’s Shadow Housing Secretary, James Cleverly, a Tory party member and military reserve officer. Smartly explored Starmer’s decision to visit the Middle East after the ceasefire was achieved in an interview with GB News.
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“He opposed the United States using its own aircraft from British bases. Then he was in favor of it. He postponed the decision to deploy British naval assets,” Cleverly said.
“He left British military personnel and our allies in the region undefended, and now he is finally handling this situation properly,” Cleverly continued.
He claimed Starmer’s behavior had cost the country ‘credibility on the world stage’.
President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on July 28, 2025 in Turnberry, Scotland. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
“I know that many of our friends and allies in the region and beyond are very disappointed with Britain’s response, and that is entirely down to decisions that Keir Starmer has not made,” Cleverly said.
British journalist Patrick Chrysty, host of GB News, also criticized Britain’s efforts in the war against Iran. He called Defense Secretary John Healey a “bumbling idiot.”
“It took us a month to get HMS Dragon to Cyprus after the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah attacked our military base there… And as the world holds its breath, HMS Dragon has suffered a freshwater supply failure. It has gone to the dock for repairs. It is out of action. This is an abomination!”
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“British Prime Minister Starmer’s trip to the Persian Gulf shows the pressure he is under to ‘raise the flag’ and it is clear that he is trying to use Britain’s traditional networks and connections among Gulf Arabs. In some ways, the Starmer team’s behind-the-scenes mediation skills were proven in the peace deal between Hamas and Israel, led by Jonathan Powell.
“This time, FCDO’s Yvette Cooper has led the charge, organizing a virtual meeting of more than 40 countries to coordinate a response to the Iranian blockade in early April.”
