The United Kingdom is sending a second warship to the Gulf to bolster the UK’s security presence in the Middle East in response to escalating tensions in the region and amidst the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The deployment of HMS Diamond, one of the Royal Navy’s most advanced vessels, will significantly bolster international efforts to protect maritime security in the region, the UK defense ministry said.
The Type 45 destroyer will join the frigate HMS Lancaster and minehunters on patrols of the region’s vital waterway.
The move aims to address security challenges in the Gulf following recent incidents, including the hijacking of an Israeli-linked cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
UK’s Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps said the deployment would “send a very clear message to Iran in particular and their proxies not to get involved” in the Gaza conflict.
“With the activity in the Red Sea [and] the Houthis from Yemen, not just firing missiles, but also now intervening with vessels, we think it’s the right time to step up that force presence… to really assure our many partners there.
“They [our partners] have been asking for it. They want us to be there. They want us to provide that level of reassurance.”
Shapps added that the deployment aims to strengthen the Royal Navy’s maritime security operation in the Gulf, reducing the risk of the Israel-Hamas crisis evolving into a regional conflict.
“This is a response to what’s happening in the region,” he told a group of reporters.
Shapps emphasized the importance of bolstering the UK’s presence in the region for the safety of Britain and its interests.
“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,” he said.
The UK’s HMS Diamond will join Operation Kipion, based in Bahrain, working with allied navies to enhance maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
Equipped with a Wildcat helicopter, HMS Diamond will join HMS Lancaster and other vessels in the mission.
The Sea Viper air-defense system on every Type 45 destroyer has the capability to track more than 2,000 targets while simultaneously managing multiple Asper missiles in the air.
This marked the most significant publicly-declared military action by the UK since a Hamas attack triggered war on October 7. Two support ships and surveillance aircraft were previously deployed to the region.
Shapps mentioned that Arab leaders in the region welcomed the increased British presence as a stabilizing force.
The US also took steps to de-escalate the situation, sending aircraft carrier strike groups and flagging the presence of a submarine.
Deployment of Royal Navy task force
In addition to the Gulf mission, Shapps announced a Royal Navy task force deploying to European waters to protect critical underwater infrastructure, such as cables.
This mission involves a UK-led grouping of 10 European nations known as the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). The patrols, set to begin early next month, will respond to the high-value target status of such infrastructure for hostile states.