The United Kingdom has placed its aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales on standby to depart from Portsmouth within five days, according to BBC reports citing defense sources. The crew has been instructed to prepare for departure on short notice, a move that deviates from the usual 14-day notice period. The deployment is being considered to protect British interests in the Mediterranean amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The British government has faced criticism for not acting swiftly enough to protect Cyprus from potential drone and missile attacks. The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon has already been deployed to the region. HMS Prince of Wales had originally been scheduled for operations in the North Atlantic and Arctic later this year as part of Operation Firecrest with U.S., Canadian, and European allies to deter Russian aggression near the Arctic.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the UK has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East since January, deploying Typhoon and F-35 jets, air defense systems, and 400 additional personnel to Cyprus to protect British citizens and allies.