8 hours ago
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Jack Fenwick,Political correspondentand Becky Morton,Political reporter
PA Media
HMS Prince of Wales, one of the UK's two aircraft carriers, is now unlikely to head to the Middle East as part of efforts to protect British interests, it is understood.
This led to speculation that it could be sent to the Mediterranean to protect the British base in Cyprus from Iranian drones and missiles.
But sources now say it is likely that the carrier will instead head to the Arctic, to take part in long-planned Nato exercises there.
People inside government were clear over the weekend that no decision had been made on whether to deploy HMS Prince of Wales to the Mediterranean but did not completely shut down reports that this was becoming increasingly likely.
He wrote on Truth Social that "we don't need them any longer" and "we don't need people that join wars after we've already won".
The UK did not allow British bases to be used in the initial US strikes on Iran but has since given permission for them to be used for defensive action against Iranian missile strikes.
The prime minister's official spokesman said: "HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness.
"The MoD [Ministry of Defence] is increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment, but there is no decision taken to deploy her."
HMS Prince of Wales had already been scheduled to go to the Arctic later this year, but it is unclear why the decision was made to place it on an advanced state of readiness.
Some in government suggested over the weekend that the decision was because of an ongoing assessment of events in the Middle East.
Sources have now said that the decision to bolster the ship's readiness was not connected to the events in Iran.
Extra fighter jets and the HMS Dragon warship are already being sent to the region following drone attacks on UK bases.
However, the UK government has been accused of not acting fast enough to protect Cyprus from enemy drones and missiles.
Last week a small drone struck the runway at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, causing what the MoD described as "minimal damage".
HMS Dragon is not ready to leave Portsmouth yet and is expected to set sail in the next few days.
The prime minister's official spokesman said the government had already deployed "significant offensive capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region", including typhoons, F-35 fighter jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus.
