Defence Secretary sends Royal Navy destroyer east of Suez to safeguard security in the Gulf
HMS Diamond has set sail to bolster UK naval forces across the Middle East.
HMS Diamond departed Portsmouth earlier this month ahead of its deployment
HMS Diamond is en route to join Operation Kipion, the UK鈥檚 maritime presence in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, the Defence Secretary has announced.
As a powerful demonstration of the UK鈥檚 commitment to regional security, the Type 45 Destroyer will bolster the UK鈥檚 naval presence in the Gulf and work to deter escalations from malign and hostile actors who seek to disrupt maritime security.
皇冠体育app will conduct operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the region, reassure merchant vessels聽and ensure the safe flow of trade. She will join , , as well as three mine hunters and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) support ship. 聽
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:
Recent events have proven how critical the Middle East remains to global security and stability.
From joint efforts to deter escalation, following the onset of the renewed conflict in Israel and Gaza, to now the unlawful and brazen seizure of MV Galaxy Leader by the Houthis in the Red Sea 鈥� it is critical that the UK bolsters our presence in the region, to keep Britain and our interests safe from a more volatile and contested world.
Today鈥檚 deployment will strengthen the Royal Navy鈥檚 patrols, help to keep critical trade routes open and prove that our commitment to regional security not only endures but enhances.
Her deployment follows increasing concerns over maritime security at narrow sea trade routes worldwide, known as chokepoints. 皇冠体育app ship is part of the UK鈥檚 commitment to supporting security in the region and the global maritime commons.
Operation Kipion is the UK鈥檚 long-standing maritime presence in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. In addition to HMS Lancaster, a squadron of three mine hunting vessels (, , and ) and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship () are also deployed as part of the operation, helping to keep the vital trade routes of the Middle East open for business.
Royal Navy vessels have been permanently deployed to the region since 1980 and have fallen under Operation Kipion since 2011. Under the command of the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC) in Bahrain, they work with allies and partners across the region, including under the partnership.
HMS Diamond is deploying with a Wildcat helicopter onboard, a highly capable aircraft which has been central to HMS Lancaster鈥檚 activities since its deployment in 2022, including when it and .
皇冠体育app additional deployment of HMS Diamond, one of the Royal Navy鈥檚 most advanced vessels, will significantly bolster international efforts to protect maritime security in the region.
皇冠体育app waters of the Gulf are vital routes for merchant shipping, including for tankers carrying much of the UK鈥檚 supply of liquefied natural gas. Around 50 large merchant ships each day pass through the Bab-el-Mandeb, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, while around 115 major merchant ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz.