Donald Trump has called on Britain and other major powers to send warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions in the Gulf continue to disrupt one of the world’s most important oil shipping lanes.
++ The only place on Earth where crocodiles and alligators live side by side
The US president said countries affected by the threat to traffic through the strait — including the UK, France, China, Japan and South Korea — should join a wider maritime effort alongside Washington. In posts published on Truth Social, he argued that the route must be kept open and safe amid the risk of Iranian drone, missile and mine attacks on commercial shipping. The Strait of Hormuz remains a crucial chokepoint for global energy supplies. Reuters reported that roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes through the waterway, and recent attacks on vessels have heightened concern over both supply disruption and rising prices.
The Ministry of Defence has not said whether Britain will commit ships, but has confirmed that discussions are under way with allies and partners over options to protect shipping in the region. Reuters reported on 15 March that no allied country had yet publicly committed to Trump’s proposed naval coalition.
Trump also warned Iran that further military action could follow unless the strait is reopened. Reuters said he threatened additional strikes on Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub, after earlier US attacks that he said had severely damaged military targets there. Tehran, however, has signalled that it intends to keep up pressure, with Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, saying this week that Hormuz would remain shut.
++ Study suggests raccoons solve puzzles out of curiosity
In Britain, the issue has sharpened both diplomatic and domestic debate. The Government has faced criticism over its response to the wider conflict, while ministers have insisted they have strengthened the RAF presence in the region to protect British personnel. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said any decision to deploy British forces should be taken in the national interest and approved by Parliament, rather than made in response to pressure from Washington. That parliamentary reaction is described in the text you provided; I have not independently verified those specific remarks. The broader military picture remains fluid. Reuters reported that Western countries have been weighing reinforcements in the eastern Mediterranean and Gulf, but public details of any British naval deployment remain limited.
