Emmanuel Macron is welcomed by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides

by David Wilcock and Will Hallowell

Cyprus’s president hugged Emmanuel Macron today as he arrived for talks on defending the island – while Sir Keir Starmer and the Royal Navy stayed at home.

Mr 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.

It came as a French-led carrier strike group containing ships from four EU members 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.

Mr 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.