The UK has joined the U.K. in a maritime security mission to protect shipping pathways in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s seizure of British flagged vessels Stena Impero.
While British officials revealed on Monday that there was no change to Britain’s policy related to Iran and coalition with the US is the strategically significant non-Brexit foreign policy step since the newly-appointed Prime Minister, Boris Johnson held office.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Britain was demanding a European-led naval mission in the Gulf Sea, specifically the Strait of Hormuz. Now, it has joined what it claimed is a US-driven “international maritime security mission”, without involving other allies.
“It is vital to secure the freedom for all international shipping to navigate the Strait of Hormuz without delay, given the increased threat,” said British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
“The deployment of Royal Navy assets is a sign of our commitment to our UK-flagged vessels and we look forward to working alongside the US and others to find an international solution to the problems in the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.
The US Department of Defense welcomed the British proposal for a joint naval mission in the strategic strait.
“This is an international challenge and we look forward to the opportunity to work together with the Royal Navy and with additional partners and allies who share the common goal of ensuring the free flow of commerce,” Commander Rebecca Rebarich, a Pentagon spokesperson, said in a statement.
As the world’s one-fifth of oil trade carried out through the Strait of Hormuz and all Gulf, middle-eastern and European countries heavily rely upon the Strait of Hormuz, it has now become the center of tension between Iran and the US, which has boosted up its military power show in the Gulf.
Relevant: Strategic Importance of Strait of Hormuz
Last month, tensions started rising after the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker by British officials in Gibraltar, accompanied by British Royal Marines. British Royal Marines in Gibraltar grid around an Iranian ship believed to have been carrying oil to Syria, which is, according to authorities is a violation of European Union sanctions on Syria.
As a retaliation act, Iran seized the British flagged Stena Impero in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, claiming that it had collided with a fishing boat and violated international maritime laws.
The UK repeatedly revoked any exchange and has since been escorting every British-flagged tanker in the region.
