The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon is being sent to the Middle East to prepare for a potential mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel will pre-position in the region, ready to join a UK and French-led coalition once hostilities between Iran and US-Israeli forces cease.
The Type 45 destroyer was initially deployed to the eastern Mediterranean to defend British bases on Cyprus following US President Donald Trump's conflict with Israel against Iran. A fragile ceasefire is currently in place, though recent attacks saw US forces strike two Iranian tankers attempting to breach a blockade imposed by Trump.
The proposed mission, championed by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait—a critical route for global oil, gas, and other goods such as fertiliser. The coalition will involve multiple nations committed to safeguarding shipping.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated: 'We can confirm that HMS Dragon will deploy to the Middle East to pre-position ahead of any future multinational mission to protect international shipping when conditions allow them to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning that will ensure that the UK is ready, as part of a multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the strait, when conditions allow.'
