HMS Dragon only left its base in southern England for the region less than a month ago, after criticism from opposition politicians and Cyprus that Britain's Akrotiri base on the Mediterranean island needed more protection.

That followed an Iranian-made drone hitting the runway of the Royal Air Force (RAF) site in southern Cyprus on March 1.

The news that the destroyer now needed maintenance so soon after arriving comes in the wake of persistent criticism from US President Donald Trump about the state of the UK's armed forces.

"HMS Dragon is undertaking a routine logistics stop and a short maintenance period in the eastern Mediterranean, allowing the ship to take onboard provisions, optimise systems and conduct maintenance," the MoD said in a statement.

It added that the vessel will "remain at a very high level of readiness during this period, able to sail at short notice if required".

"The UK continues to maintain a robust and layered defensive presence in the eastern Mediterranean, working in co-ordination with allies," the MoD noted.

Britain's domestic Press Association (PA) news agency said it understood that the stop would address a minor technical issue with onboard water systems, while noting the issue had not affected the vessel's operational capability.

The Middle East war has exposed the limits of Britain's navy in particular, seen by observers as an embarrassment for a once-proud maritime power.

Expressing frustration at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's refusal to support the US and Israel in offensive operations against Iran, Trump has repeatedly criticised Britain's military, calling its aircraft carriers "toys".

"You don't even have a navy," the US leader told Britain's Daily Telegraph in an interview last week.