Britain has proposed deploying a squadron of RAF Typhoon jets based in Qatar to patrol the Strait of Hormuz as part of a multinational effort to keep the waterway open following the end of the Iran war. The offer, made during a 30-country meeting at the UK's Northwood headquarters jointly organised with France, also includes mine-hunting drones and specialist divers to clear mines laid by Iran.
Eight Typhoons are currently stationed in Qatar, and several were involved in shooting down Shahed drones during the 38-day conflict in the Middle East. The meeting, which concluded on Thursday, included representatives from Germany, Norway, South Korea, and Australia. British sources declined to confirm US participation but stated that Washington was kept informed.
Defence Secretary John Healey attended the meeting and, alongside French counterpart Catherine Vautrin, issued a joint statement calling for “practical military options” and a “coordinated joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the strait”. However, the status of the mission remains uncertain, with conflicting signals from former US President Donald Trump on whether American assistance is needed.
The UK and France have ruled out using military force to reopen the strait but are willing to act under a peace deal or sustainable ceasefire to protect oil tankers and merchant shipping from what is expected to be a low-level threat. The Royal Navy has faced criticism over limited warship availability, with HMS Dragon arriving in the region weeks after the conflict began, raising readiness concerns.
Last month, Trump described Britain's two aircraft carriers as “toys” and suggested the UK would only deploy them after the war. Since the autumn, the UK armed forces have been led by Richard Knighton, shifting emphasis from the navy to the air force. During the crisis, the UK relied on airbases in Cyprus and Qatar rather than deploying a warship, focusing on jets and counter-drone crews.
