UK Ministers vow to prevent Red Sea becoming restricted shipping zone

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Dec 2023 18:05

On Saturday, several incidents in the Red Sea were reported as multiple ships got targeted with drones.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, rear, addresses members of an international maritime task force protecting commercial ships in the Red Sea at US Navy Central Command headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023 (AP Photo/Tara Copp)

The Cabinet ministers have stated that the UK and its allies are committed to preventing the Red Sea from becoming a restricted zone for shipping and will intensify their endeavors to counteract what they claimed to be Iran's "malign influence."

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps affirmed the UK's dedication to "repelling" assaults on ships utilizing the crucial trade route perpetrated by an Iranian-backed group in Yemen.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron on the other hand emphasized the necessity of sending an "incredibly clear message" to Tehran to convey that its activities would not be tolerated.

"We are committed to protecting British interests – vessels sailing under a UK flag, or with British sailors or carrying goods destined for our shores," Shapps told the Sunday Times. "We have seen the disruption the terrorist attacks have caused – with major operators including Maersk and BP avoiding the region," he added. "We can’t allow any maritime area to become a no-go area, particularly such a vital route. But wider than that, we need to promote a safer world."

"The spate of illegal attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security," he said, adding that "the rules-based world order means we have to remain committed to repelling these attacks to protect the free flow of global trade, and I am determined the UK will remain a major player in that."

Cameron said that the resistance in Yemen, who have been targeting and seizing Israeli-linked ships, was just one of the many groups backed by Iran, including the resistance in Palestine.

Since the start of the genocide in Gaza, the resistance in Yemen has stated multiple times that it is compelled to seize Israeli-linked vessels due to the West's complicity in Israeli war crimes.

Is Iran to blame?

On Saturday, several incidents in the Red Sea were reported as multiple ships got targeted with drones.

Cameron is blaming Iran for increased resistance activities despite the fact that Iran has denied these accusations on several occasions.

"Iran is a thoroughly malign influence in the region and in the world – there’s no doubt about that," Cameron said. "You’ve got the Houthis, you’ve got Hezbollah, you’ve got the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq that have actually been attacking British and American bases, troops. And, of course, Hamas."

"So you’ve got all of these proxies, and I think it’s incredibly important that, first of all, Iran receives an incredibly clear message that this escalation will not be tolerated. Second of all, we need to work with our allies to develop a really strong set of deterrent measures against Iran, and it’s important that we do that," he added.

"The level of danger and insecurity in the world is at an extremely high level compared with previous years and decades, and the Iran threat is a part of that picture."

Red Sea Drone Attacks Escalate

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), an initiative led by the Royal Navy that offers information on security incidents to shipping operators, brought attention to a series of attacks that occurred on Saturday.

Several reports indicated that a drone flew at a low altitude above a vessel, subsequently detonating approximately 1.5 nautical miles away from the ship. This incident occurred approximately 50 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen.

There have also been drone attacks reported in the Red Sea, at approximately 45 nautical miles from Saleef, Yemen.

A separate incident occurred around 200 miles southwest of Veraval, India, beyond the Red Sea, where the US claimed a kamikaze drone from Iran hit a chemical tanker.

David Cameron's remarks followed discussions on the Red Sea situation during his Middle East visit, including talks with his Egyptian counterpart.

The Royal Navy's HMS Diamond recently joined an international operation, hinting at potential increased British involvement.

The threat to shipping in the Red Sea could force vessels on the Asia-Europe route to detour around Africa's southern tip, impacting costs as some companies, including BP, have already rerouted vessels away from the area.