After the French army deployed its carrier strike group near the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom also announced the deployment of its warship to the Middle East.
The United Kingdom has announced it is sending its air defense destroyer HMS Dragon to the Middle East as part of preparations for a multinational effort to secure freedom of navigation on the main oil trade route, which has been declared closed to commercial shipping by Iran.
Following the US-Israeli attacks and subsequent retaliation by the Islamic Republic, the UK deployed HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean in March to protect Cyprus against Iranian missiles and drones.
Its repositioning follows a similar move by France which deployed its aircraft carrier to the southern Red Sea as European powers work together on a plan to open the Strait of Hormuz.
A Ministry of Defense spokesperson said: “The prepositioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning which will ensure the UK is ready, as part of a multinational coalition led jointly by the UK and France, “to secure the strait, when conditions permit”.
The development comes as the United States seeks a response from Iran regarding its proposed peace plan.
Germany also declared itself ready to send its minesweeping boats through the strait to clear it of mines; however, it set as a precondition at least a ceasefire between the warring parties to move forward in the deployment of its naval assets.
