Britain Deploys Warship to Middle East, Ready to Secure Strait of Hormuz
Istanbul (ANTARA) - The British Ministry of Defence stated on Saturday that it has deployed a warship to the Middle East in preparation for the possible launch of an international mission to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer previously stationed in the eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus, will stand ready in the region to participate in the British-French maritime initiative if conditions allow, according to reports from various British media.
The mission plan, backed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to maintain freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
“We can confirm that HMS Dragon will be deployed to the Middle East to stand ready ahead of the possible implementation of a multinational mission to protect international shipping when conditions allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” said a spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defence.
“The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning that will ensure the UK’s readiness, as part of a multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the strait,” they added.
Tensions in the region have escalated following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, after which Iran launched retaliatory attacks on Israel and US allies in the Persian Gulf.
The conflict has caused disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
On 8 April, a ceasefire was agreed upon with mediation by Pakistan, but the first stage of peace talks in Islamabad on 11 April failed to produce a long-term agreement.
US President Donald Trump subsequently extended the ceasefire indefinitely, providing time for all parties to pursue a permanent conflict resolution through diplomacy.
However, since 13 April, the US has blockaded Iranian maritime traffic in that strategic waterway.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday (5/5), President Donald Trump announced that the US military would temporarily postpone the implementation of “Project Freedom” to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
As such, the US blockade against Iran will continue, Trump stated.