Agencies | London:
The United Kingdom on Saturday announced the deployment of a naval destroyer to West Asia as part of preparations for a possible international maritime security mission aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the deployment of the warship HMS Dragon forms part of a broader contingency plan being developed jointly by the United Kingdom and France to secure the crucial shipping corridor amid growing regional instability.
“The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning that will ensure the UK is ready, as part of a multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the strait when conditions allow,” a ministry spokesperson said.
Officials stated that the deployment is intended to reassure global commercial shipping operators and support future mine-clearance operations once hostilities in the region subside.
The development comes nearly a month after Britain and France confirmed they were drafting military plans to safeguard navigation through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s busiest and most sensitive maritime trade routes, through which a significant portion of global oil supplies pass daily.
According to AFP, military planners from over 44 countries participated in a two-day strategic meeting in London in April to discuss the framework and operational logistics of a multinational naval mission led by the UK and France.
Meanwhile, China on Saturday urged regional countries to take “concrete steps” to restore uninterrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the safety of civilian vessels and crew members after a Chinese-owned oil tanker reportedly came under attack near the waterway earlier this week.
Chinese media reports stated that the tanker, marked “CHINA OWNER & CREW,” was attacked near the strategic route on Monday. Although Chinese nationals were on board, no casualties were reported.
The security concerns have intensified further after an Indian sailor died and several others were injured on Friday when a wooden dhow carrying Indian crew members caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz.
The recent incidents have heightened fears over maritime safety in the Gulf region, with global powers increasingly focusing on securing vital trade and energy supply routes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
