European nations are rapidly deploying naval and air assets to Cyprus following a drone strike on a British base. Greece dispatched two frigates and four F-16s, while France sent the anti-drone frigate Languedoc to bolster the island's defenses. The coordinated response comes after an Iranian-made drone struck RAF Akrotiri on Monday.

The military buildup expanded Thursday when Spain announced its Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate Cristóbal Colón would join the mission. The Spanish warship, fresh from training exercises with France's Charles de Gaulle carrier in the Baltic Sea, is expected to reach waters off Crete next week. Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed his country would follow France, Spain and the Netherlands in sending naval assets.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides thanked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for Italy's participation. The Netherlands is preparing to send the frigate HNLMS Evertsen with France's carrier strike group. The UK deployed the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon and two Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles, with Defense Secretary John Healey meeting his Cypriot counterpart to discuss further reinforcement. The coordinated European response demonstrates growing concerns about regional security threats.