Cyprus's president hugged Emmanuel Macron today as he arrived for talks on defending the island, vowing the EU would step up while Sir Keir Starmer and the Royal Navy stayed at home.
Macron and Nikos Christodoulides embraced this morning at the start of the French leader's visit to discuss 'security' in the wake of an Iranian drone strike on RAF Akrotiri.
The French president said that 'an attack on Cyprus is an attack on all Europe' after arriving by jet this morning, adding: 'The defence of Cyprus is obviously a key issue for your country, for your neighbour, partner and friend, Greece, but also for France and, with it, the European Union.'
It came as a French-led carrier strike group containing ships from four EU member states steams east through the Mediterranean to help defend Cyprus, following a plea for help from Mr Christodoulides.
At the same time, HMS Dragon, which has been ordered to deploy to the region, remains in Portsmouth taking on ammunition.
Additionally, No10 signalled today that despite reports over the weekend suggesting the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was being readied to follow, it will not be going to the warzone.
In a further blow to British naval prestige, he also announced France will send warships to the Red Sea to guard ships traversing the Straits of Hormuz off the south coast of Iran.
At the same time, Sir Keir made a low-key visit to a community centre in London discussing the cost of living, amid fears that the US-led conflict with Iran could send fuel prices soaring.
Experts warned that petrol could hit £2 a litre for the first time, amid a staggering spike in global oil costs.
The AA and RAC have advised drivers to cut non-essential journeys and avoid harsh acceleration and braking to conserve fuel.
Macron and Nikos Christodoulides embraced this morning at the start of the French leader's visit to discuss 'security' in the wake of an Iranian drone strike on RAF Akrotiri
RAF Akrotiri was hit by Iranian drones equipped with Russian military hardware on Sunday
As Macron visits local leaders today to provide reassurance, Sir Keir made a low-key visit to a community centre on London, where he talked about the cost of living
Cyprus was again targeted by Iranian-made drones on Monday, leading Macron to order France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean.
He also sent a frigate and air defence units to the island nation, which is home to around 2,000 British personnel and their families.
The Elysee said: 'This trip is intended to demonstrate France's solidarity with Cyprus, a member state of the European Union with which we have a strategic partnership.'
France has insisted its stance in the region is 'strictly defensive'.
The visit will also allow Macron 'to emphasise the importance of guaranteeing freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, in particular through the European Union's Aspides maritime operation', his office added.
There have been numerous attacks on ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint in the Gulf, since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28.
A government spokesman for Cyprus, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said the visit will allow the leaders of Cyprus, Greece and France to assess the 'high level of coordination' between their nations.
Letymbiotis also highlighted the role of Italy, which like Britain, has deployed a warship to Cyprus.
Macron said that 'an attack on Cyprus is an attack on all Europe' after arriving by jet this morning, also announcing France will send warships to the Red Sea
Britain is sending air defence destroyer HMS Dragon and readying the carrier HMS Prince of Wales, but they both remain in Portsmouth
When they do sail it will take around a week for them to arrive, while the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle cleared the Straits of Gibraltar on Friday (pictured)
On Sunday, Macron said he had also spoken with the Qatari Emir Sheikh, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the president of Azerbaijan.
Discussing the region with the Qatari ruler, Macron said he highlighted France's 'defensive military support', particularly in the air, which he added is deployed to the 'benefit of Qatar'.
The French president said: 'Qatar and France share the same conviction: beyond the clamour of arms, lasting stability for all must come through de-escalation and negotiation.'
Macron also said he offered France's 'support and solidarity' to Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev after a drone strike on the country, which neighbours Iran, raised fears that the Middle East war could spill into the Caucasus.
The Royal Navy faced further embarrassment on Thursday as more European countries sent warships to the eastern Mediterranean that will arrive before Britain's HMS Dragon.
Defence Secretary John Healey visited RAF Akrotiri on Monday. He has refused to rule out deploying British troops as part of the the war in the Middle East
Spain and the Netherlands confirmed their frigates will protect Cyprus, where RAF Akrotiri remains vulnerable.
While the Royal Air Force delivered a Wildcat helicopter to Cyprus on Friday, the most significant British reinforcement to land on the island was Defence Secretary John Healey, who was accompanied by a journalist from The Guardian.
Mr Healey refused to rule out British troops being drawn into the US and Israel's attacks on Iran but would not speculate on future commitments as he visited the military base.
He was forced to take cover as another warning of Iranian drones was sounded – following an attack on the base on Sunday evening.
According to Cypriot officials, this attack, which damaged the runway and a hangar, was carried out by Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
They appeared to be targeting US bombers in a separate part of the base.
It is understood the Iranian drone that hit RAF Akrotiri on Sunday, fired from Lebanon, was equipped with Russian military hardware.
Components of the drone recovered by the British military intelligence have now been sent to a laboratory in the UK for further investigation, The Times reported.
It comes after sources claimed that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on the location of US military assets, including warships and aircraft in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump said he had received 'no indication' Russia is helping Iran.
'If they are, they're not doing a very good job, because Iran is not doing too well,' he said.
However, three officials familiar with the intelligence said Russia had been assisting Iran since the war began.
One source told The Washington Post the alleged Russian support amounted to a 'pretty comprehensive effort' to help its ally Tehran target American forces in the region.
The UK's chief of the defence staff, Sir Richard Knighton, said he had 'no doubt' that Russia had been sharing intelligence with Iran.
Russia's ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, told Sky News on Saturday that Moscow is 'not neutral', adding that Russia was 'supportive to Iran'.
