Posted on 07/22/2019 12:50:19 PM PDT by Mariner
ONDON (AP) — Britain announced plans Monday to develop and deploy a Europe-led “maritime protection mission” to safeguard shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz in light of Iran’s seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the waterway last week.
Briefing Parliament on the budding crisis, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt accused Iran of “an act of state piracy” that must be met with a coordinated international reaction.
Iranian officials have suggested the Stena Impero was seized and taken to an Iranian port in response to Britain’s role in seizing an Iranian oil tanker two weeks earlier off the coast of Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located on the southern tip of Spain.
Hunt announced precious few details of the proposed protection mission, but said Britain’s European allies will play a major role in keeping shipping lanes open. One-fifth of all global crude exports passes through the narrow strait between Iran and Oman.
The foreign secretary said Iran must understand that its actions will only lead to a bigger Western military footprint in the region.
“It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing this increased international presence in the Gulf, because the focus of our diplomacy has been on de-escalating tensions in the hope that such changes would not be necessary,” Hunt said.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
They can’t even prevent George Soros’ navy from ferrying Africans across the Mediterranean
LOL what Navy do they have?
Exactly right. Anyone else in his job right now would be leading a “coalition” of our “allies” into a war with Iran with us footing the bill with money and soldiers lives. Good on Trump.
you are correct, the EU should take care of this, it is in their backyard.
five well armed royal marines per ship, problem solved.
you aren’t going to be rappelling down a rope from your chopper with 5 guys firing automatic weapons at you.
much ado about nothing. you remember somalia pirates? same deal. same solution
“Readiness”
And logistics.
We can help them with that if they’re serious. If not, eff ‘em.
To be sure they have some fine ships, many are modern and well armed. But it’s been many decades since many in those navies operated, and sustained operations on the other side of the Suez without their big brother there to support them.
And in most cases their ability to INTEROPERATE is limited to voice comms.
Unrep? Show me.
Several months on end of sustained operations more than 5,000 miles from home is the hallmark of a REAL navy.
The EU doesn’t have a real navy and neither does any member state on its own.
That said, if the UK can put 5 Frigates or Destroyers on station for 5 months, I’ll tip my hat to them.
Time for the EU freeloaders to spend their own blood and treasure. But we know these ass clowns will just talk while the US has to do the work. Time for the US to stop giving them a free ride.
This announcement declares in effect there are now two different coalitions protecting shipping in the Staights region.
There is the UK/EU coalition of buyers and the Saudi/UAE/USA coalition.
We can watch for coordination between the two including diciding up the various spaces to be protected.
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