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The Royal Navy will accompany British-flagged ships in the Strait of Ormuz to defend the freedom of navigation following the capture of an oil tanker by Iran this month, the ministry said. Defense.
"The Royal Navy has been tasked to accompany British flag ships in the Strait of Ormuz, either individually or in groups, if given sufficient notice," said a spokesman for the government. British. "Freedom of navigation is crucial for the global trading system and the global economy and we will do everything in our power to defend it."
This is a tentative decision prior to discussions on the development of an international force of maritime protection in the Gulf led by Europe in coordination but separate from the United States or jointly with United States. The United States is holding a conference on the issue on Thursday.
Jeremy Hunt, in his capacity as Foreign Secretary, had proposed a European maritime force, claiming that it was likely to garner more support than a US-led convoy, the US wanting to end to the Iran nuclear deal, unlike the European powers.
The different national approaches to the nuclear agreement were seen as likely to influence the conditions of engagement to protect European shipping across the Strait, ministers said.
It is not yet clear whether the new administration of Boris Johnson will seek to win favor with Europe, which could irritate the United States because it is the dominant naval force in the region.
Some Gulf States are proposing an international maritime conference at which Iran would be invited to attempt to hear about the basic principles of maritime protection. The conference would be held in France or Germany and would include countries such as India, China and Japan, as well as Gulf Maritime States such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Proponents of a conference believe that they could either agree on at least a collective declaration on the sanctity of navigation, or create a contact group to give early warning and report threats to navigation .
The Royal Navy has already advised British flag ships to contact him before attempting to cross the Strait of Ormuz. Stena Impero, a Swedish and British-flagged Stena Impero, was seized in the Strait a week ago, as part of what was perceived as a botched move in response to the British capture of the Iranian oil tanker Grace 1 in Gibraltar.
The United Kingdom advised British ships not to cross the Strait of Ormuz, but at least two vessels – the flag carrier of the Cayman Islands, Oriental Freesia, and the BW Nantes, Bermuda flag – seemed ready. to tempt him. Other tankers appeared to follow the advice of the Department of Transport or were waiting for a Royal Navy escort. HMS Montrose is currently in the area and should be replaced by HMS Duncan.
Bob Sanguinetti, Managing Director of the UK Chamber of Shipping, said: "Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international maritime law … This measure will provide essential security and badurance to our maritime transport community in this uncertain time".
However, it is urgent that the United Kingdom protect not only individual vessels, but also a threatened industry. The British maritime register has lost nearly a third of its tonnage in just four months due to the threat of Brexit and broadens the eligibility for the flag to include Commonwealth countries and 20 other countries.
It is feared that many ships will opt out of the UK as they feel that they represent a specific target for Iranians.
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