Britain is facing sharp criticism from partners in the Gulf after Iranian missile strikes escalated tensions across the Middle East. Regional allies say the UK government responded too slowly to the threat and delayed key military decisions at a critical moment.
Britain’s allies in the Gulf and Cyprus have raised concerns that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer did not act quickly enough to protect the region and British nationals during the latest Iranian missile attacks. According to The Times (UK), officials in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have privately questioned the UK’s response and its defence posture around Cyprus, where Britain operates two military bases.
The UK maintains a naval support facility in Bahrain with around 300 service personnel. The base lies close to the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, which was struck by an Iranian missile. John Healey, the UK defence secretary, said the missile landed less than 200 metres from British forces.
Frustration among Gulf partners also stems from the delay in allowing the United States to use joint military bases, including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, for what Washington described as defensive airstrikes against Iranian missile sites. Starmer eventually approved the request on Sunday evening, but allies viewed the delay as a slow response during an escalating conflict.
Military deployments have also drawn criticism. British F-35 and Typhoon aircraft based in Cyprus have been flying defensive missions to intercept Iranian missiles and drones. However, the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon will not depart for Cyprus until next week because the ship is being brought out of maintenance and fitted with the required weapons.
A western official told The Times (UK) that the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon reached the chief of defence staff at 9.30am on Tuesday, four days after the conflict began and nearly two days after RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by a drone. The proposal was then passed to ministers and approved shortly afterwards.
Further reinforcements are planned. Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters, armed with Martlet missiles designed to counter aerial threats, are expected to arrive in Cyprus within days.
Cypriot officials have welcomed the support but say it is arriving slowly. Kyriacos Kouros, Cyprus’s high commissioner to the UK, said the deployment of HMS Dragon was “welcome” but noted the ship would take more than a week to reach the region. He compared the UK’s timeline with that of other allies.
“The French are coming,” Kouros said. “The least we expect is the Britons to also be present since, as I said, we are not only defending Cypriots on the islands.”
Tensions were further heightened after reports that Starmer delayed approving US use of British bases following objections within the cabinet. The hesitation reportedly angered Gulf governments, particularly the United Arab Emirates, where most of the 300,000 Britons living in the region are based.
A source familiar with the UAE’s concerns told The Times (UK) there was a sense that the prime minister had to be pushed into granting approval, adding that the episode reflected poorly in the eyes of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
According to The Spectator, cabinet ministers including Ed Miliband, Rachel Reeves and Shabana Mahmood raised objections during a National Security Council meeting on Friday about allowing the US to launch attacks on Iran from British bases.
Approval was granted on Sunday, after allies in the region had already come under attack.
In the House of Commons, Starmer defended the earlier hesitation, saying there had initially been no lawful basis or clear operational plan. A spokeswoman for Downing Street said the government does not comment on National Security Council discussions and insisted the final decision had cabinet support.
The government said it has strengthened military defences across the region. A spokesman said Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets operating from Cyprus and Qatar have been flying defensive sorties and intercepting Iranian drones.
Officials added that since January, the UK has deployed additional radar systems, air defence assets and F-35 jets to Cyprus, along with Typhoon aircraft to Qatar. Reinforcements now include Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles and the planned deployment of HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean.
The government also confirmed that the prime minister has authorised the United States to use British bases for defensive missions targeting Iran’s missile capabilities, adding that the UK remains prepared to protect its forces and regional allies.