British Defence Minister Al Carns has warned that “we live in very dangerous times” as threats from Russia and the Middle East escalate from the “high north” to Iran. His comments come amid more than two weeks of the US-Israeli war on Iran, during which British forces have neutralised drones and missiles from Iran and its proxies.
Senior western officials have confirmed growing European concern over the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian missile threats have blocked the key Gulf choke point, reducing oil and gas flow and boosting global energy prices. A UK refusal to send ships to help unblock the strait has caused tension between US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Mr Carns, a former commando and war veteran, highlighted a 30% increase in Russian submarine and warship operations in the Arctic, noting that the world has become “exceptionally fractious.” He stated: “It's exceptionally fractious and more fractious than I've seen it probably during 24 years in my military experience.”
The minister reported that UK navy and RAF warplanes have flown over 650 hours on operations to monitor and counter the Iranian drone and missile threat, with more than 40 drones neutralised. He credited British troops with saving “a huge amount of lives.”
Other western officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed unease over securing the Strait of Hormuz, noting that in 1987 it took 30 warships to escort tankers. They described the current situation as “incredibly fluid” and said few nations are willing to commit forces while the threat level remains high.
