Britain sends Royal Navy ship to Gulf for 'security operations'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
30 Nov 2023 05:24

The British government announced the deployment of the Royal Navy ship Diamond to 'enhance regional security' in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

The British Royal Navy's HMS Diamond ship. (UK Ministry of Defense/ GOV.UK)

The British government announced on Thursday at dawn that it has dispatched the Royal Navy ship HMS Diamond under the pretext of 'reinforcing regional security' in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

"It is critical that the UK bolsters our presence in the region, to keep Britain and our interests safe from a more volatile and contested world," British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said.

In the region, Britain currently maintains the frigate Lancaster, three mine hunters, and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship.

In a statement, the government said that "Britain has sent the Royal Navy ship Diamond to help bolster regional security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean".

The Diamond will allegedly "work to deter escalations from malign and hostile actors who seek to disrupt maritime security", the statement added, alleging that it will be "conducting operations to ensure freedom of navigation, reassure merchant's vessels and ensure the safe flow of trade".

"From joint efforts to deter escalation, following the onset of the renewed conflict in Israel and Gaza, to now the unlawful and brazen seizure of MV Galaxy Leader by the Houthis in the Red Sea – it is critical that the UK bolsters our presence in the region, to keep Britain and our interests safe from a more volatile and contested world."

This comes after the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on November 25 that a shipping vessel was ordered by "an entity declaring itself to be the Yemeni authorities" to alter course in the Red Sea.

The "UKMTO has been made aware of an entity declaring itself to be the Yemeni authorities ordering a vessel to alter course," the body said.

It further advised all vessels in the vicinity to "exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO."

The Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security Affairs in the Sanaa Government in Yemen, Jalal al-Rowaishan, told Al Mayadeen that the temporary humanitarian truce, between the Palestinian Resistance and "Israel", will not affect the government's decision to close the Red Sea off for Israeli vessels.

"The truce concerns Gaza, and the military spokesman announced that our decision to close the Red Sea to the enemy still stands," al-Rowaishan affirmed.

He emphasized that the Yemeni position on the war on Gaza has been popularly and officially declared, adding that Yemen will no longer seek diplomatic means in relation to the Israeli occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip.