UK SAYS WILL CONTRIBUTE VARIOUS WEAPONRY TO JOIN DEFENSIVE MISSION SECURING HORMUZ STRAIT

Wed 13 May 2026:

The United Kingdom says it will contribute a large arsenal of weaponry to the multinational mission aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the government said the weaponry would include drones, Typhoon fighter jets, a warship, an autonomous mine-hunting kit, Typhoon jets and the warship HMS Dragon.

The statement added that the defensive mission will also be backed by 115 million British pounds ($156m) worth of new funding for mine-hunting drones and counter-drone systems.

Defence Minister John Healey announced the commitment during a virtual summit with more than 40 of his counterparts from other nations involved in the mission, which he said would become operational when conditions allowed.

“With our allies, this multinational mission will be defensive, independent and credible,” said Healey.

Britain already has more than 1,000 personnel deployed in the region as part of existing defensive operations, including counter-drone teams and fast jet squadrons.

The Iran war has sharply curtailed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting oil exports and sending energy prices higher. About a fifth of the world’s oil passes through ‌the ⁠strait.

Britain’s contribution will be backed by 115 million pounds ($155.53 million) of new funding for mine-hunting drones and counter-drone systems, as London seeks to reassure commercial shipping of its commitment to freedom of navigation ⁠amid heightened regional tensions.

The package will include autonomous systems to detect and clear naval mines, high‑speed drone boats, Typhoon jets for air patrols ⁠and HMS Dragon, an air defence destroyer that is already on its way to the Middle East.

__________________________________________________________________________

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22

__________________________________________________________________________

Australia to join 40 nations for planned post-war Hormuz Strait mission

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has spoken to counterparts from more than 40 countries, reaffirming collective diplomatic, economic and military support for freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Marles said Australia will support the “independent and strictly defensive” multinational military mission to ensure free navigation in the strait, which will be led by the UK and France.

Australia will contribute their E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the mission, Marles said.

“We want to see this conflict end, the Strait of Hormuz open and freedom of navigation resume. The longer this conflict goes on the more significant the impact on Australia will be,” he said in a statement.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

__________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22