UK, Greece, France Move to Reinforce Cyprus After Drone Strike on RAF Akrotiri Base

Reinforcements include fighter jets, naval deployments and counter-drone capabilities.

Undated handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defense and Royal Navy of the HMS Dragon conducting a small arms firing at sea in the Hebrides Ranges located off the West coast of Scotland, as part of Operation Hercules, on May 16, 2025. LPhot Oliver Leach/Ministry of Defence/PA

European allies, including the UK, Greece, and France, are moving to reinforce Cyprus after a drone struck the British Royal Air Force Akrotiri base on the Mediterranean island on March 2 amid rising tensions across the Middle East.

The UK said on March 3 that it will be deploying helicopters with counter-drone capabilities and HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 air defence destroyers, in the region.