Britain announced Tuesday that it will deploy fighter jets, autonomous mine-hunting systems and a Royal Navy destroyer as part of a multinational mission aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating regional tensions linked to the Iran war.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the deployment during a virtual meeting with more than 40 defence ministers participating in the initiative, describing the mission as a defensive operation designed to safeguard maritime navigation through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
“With our allies, this multinational mission will be defensive, independent, and credible,” Healey said in a statement.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies transit, has seen shipping traffic sharply reduced since the outbreak of the conflict involving Iran, raising concerns over global energy security and pushing oil prices higher.
Britain said its contribution would include Typhoon fighter jets for aerial patrols, HMS Dragon — an air defence destroyer currently en route to the Middle East — and a range of autonomous naval systems intended to detect and neutralize sea mines.
London also pledged 115 million pounds ($155 million) in additional funding for mine-hunting drones and counter-drone technologies as part of efforts to reassure commercial shipping operators and maintain freedom of navigation in the Gulf.
The package includes high-speed unmanned drone boats and autonomous mine-clearing equipment designed to counter threats to maritime traffic in the narrow waterway.
Britain already maintains more than 1,000 military personnel in the region through existing defensive operations, including counter-drone units and fast jet squadrons stationed across the Middle East.
