Britain is preparing to step up its military involvement in the Middle East despite Keir Starmer insisting that the country will “not be drawn into the wider war” with Iran.
Defence minister Al Carns, a former Royal Marine, told MPs the government is “not going to rule anything out” in its commitment to defending British interests and allies in the region.
The UK is working closely with the US, France and other European countries, as well as Gulf states, on a “viable and credible plan” to free up the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently blocked by Iranian drone attacks, and allow ships safe travel.
Defence Secretary John Healey told the Commons that the UK was “looking now at additional options including interceptor drones for the Middle East”, as The i Paper reported on Sunday.
Earlier the Prime Minister, in a rebuff to Trump, insisted that Britain would “not be drawn into a wider war” as part of the US-Israeli strikes against Iran.
But Starmer and UK ministers and officials are in discussions with allies on a plan to open up the crucial shipping lane in the Gulf.
‘We cannot guarantee where this war is going to go’
The i Paper understands that these talks about Hormuz are regarded as separate to those around involvement in Operation Epic Fury – the US military action against Iran – which Starmer was referring to in his Downing Street press conference.
The UK government is looking at “all proposals” on the Strait of Hormuz, including supporting defensive military action to escort merchant ships and oil tankers through the choke point.
This military action would be seen as specifically defensive and to protect the interests of Britain and the rest of the world, which is grappling with the soaring costs of oil and gas as a result of the blockade.
Britain is already preparing to send minehunting boats to the Gulf, and is stepping up production of British-made Octopus interceptor drones to ready them for the Middle East, but ministers told the Commons there could be more military involvement to defend the Strait.
However discussions are still at an early stage and the government has declined to comment on a specific role for the UK.
Carns, a defence minister and former Marine, told MPs: “We’re going to continue to work in a comprehensive and calm manner with our allies and partners to ensure we can come up with a solution to the Strait of Hormuz, and we’re not going to rule anything out because we cannot guarantee where this war is going to go.”
And Defence Secretary John Healey said: “We are in continued conversations with European allies and the US.
“These questions are complex, any plans must be multilateral with as many nations taking part as possible, and without getting into detailed operational options or discussions, I have already said that we have prepositioned in the region autonomous minehunting capabilities, we have counter-drone systems in action in the region, pulling down drones, and looking ahead alongside industry we’re also looking now at additional options including interceptor drones for the Middle East.”
Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty revealed that HMS Stirling Castle, a minehunting mother ship, left Portsmouth on Monday, fuelling speculation that it could be en route to the Gulf.
However it would take three weeks to get there.
Another minehunter, HMS Middleton, left the region in January.
More UK jet in the region than at any time for 15 years
Interceptor drones would need to be launched from land or a Type 45 Destroyer. The UK’s only at-sea Destroyer, HMS Dragon, is currently in the eastern Mediterranean to defend Cyprus from drone attacks and would take a week to get to the Gulf.
The Ministry of Defence revealed that the UK now has more jets in the Middle East than at any period over the last 15 years.
Across the Gulf and eastern Med, RAF pilots have now completed more than 550 flying hours on defensive operations protecting British people, bases and partners in the region, the MoD said.
On Sunday night, UK F-35 and Typhoon aircraft, supported by Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft, continued to conduct defensive air patrols over Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain and the Eastern Mediterranean.
British planes are shooting down drones almost every day, the defence minister said.
The Prime Minister’s warning to Trump about being drawn into a wider war came after a weekend of pressure on the UK by the US president, who has called on its ally, and other Nato countries, to do more to support his administration in the war.
On Monday, Trump continued in his criticism of Starmer, saying he was “not happy” with the UK and “very surprised” over its response to the Iran war.
He indicated he believed the UK would be involved with helping in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, adding: “They should be involved enthusiastically.”
Hence then, the article about uk in talks over boosting navy in the gulf to defend shipping was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( UK in talks over boosting Navy in the Gulf to defend shipping )
Also on site :
- The ‘rules-based order’ has failed in its mission – helping the West do whatever it wants
- Armed police close Lewes Road
- Intrigue, Power Plays and Rivalries: Inside the Rise of Mojtaba Khamenei