Why hasn’t the UK sent warships to the Strait of Hormuz?
Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure from Donald Trump as the US president calls on NATO allies to send warships to reopen a key oil route.
Households and businesses around the world are facing rising energy prices following the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
During ongoing US-Israeli attacks, Iran has restricted ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s daily oil use passes.
As oil prices soar, the US president has vowed to form an international coalition to escort commercial shipping ships through the maritime choke point.
But Sir Keir so far appears to be resisting the US president’s call to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of rising tensions between Mr Trump and the prime minister.
Let’s look at what Mr. Trump is demanding from the UK in The Independent and why the UK has not sent a warship to the Bosphorus yet:
What did Donald Trump want?
Donald Trump has warned that the NATO alliance faces a “very bad” future if allies do not send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Pressing NATO allies to deepen their involvement in the conflict that escalated over the weekend, the US president called on Britain to send ships to the region to protect oil tankers from Iranian attacks.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Trump reiterated his call for allied assistance in the Strait of Hormuz, telling the newspaper: “It is only appropriate that the people who benefit from the Strait help ensure that nothing bad happens there.”
This follows previous calls for the UK, China, France, Japan and South Korea to send ships to secure the route.
Arguing that NATO will face a “very bad” future if member countries do not help, the president added: “We will see whether they will help us. Because we will be on their side for a long time, but they will not be on our side.”
Why didn’t England send warships?
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the prime minister said Britain “will not be drawn into a wider war” but confirmed he was working with allies on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Ministers are considering the possibility of sending mine hunter planes to the region instead of sending warships.
Sir Keir met Mr Trump on Sunday for the first time since he appealed for help from other countries to secure the Strait of Hormuz, but did not respond to the US president’s demands.
But on Monday the prime minister did not rule out being involved in opening the straits but said: “We want as many partners as possible to be involved.”
He insisted it was “vital” to keep the straits open because of the impact on fuel prices and supply.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said on Sunday there were “a range of things” Britain and its allies could do to secure the route.
Mr Miliband added: “We are looking intensively with our allies at what can be done because reopening the strait is so important.”
Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important?
The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil route, has brought trade in the region to a halt and caused energy prices to rise around the world.
After the outbreak of war with the United States, Iran took control of the transit, which accounts for one fifth of the world’s oil passing through this route.
As a result of the blockade, the price of oil rose above $100 (£74) per barrel last week for the first time since 2022.
The cost of heating oil used by approximately 1.5 million homes in the UK has doubled since the start of the crisis.
In a bid to ease domestic concerns, Starmer on Monday announced a £53 million support package to help households struggling with rising energy costs.
It set out targeted support for the most vulnerable segments of the 1.5 million households dependent on heating oil, which, unlike gas and electricity, are not covered by the energy cap.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce full details of the support package next week, which is expected to include direct payments to vulnerable households. However, it is not known exactly how many homes will receive support.
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