Royal Navy to Lead “Hormuz Coalition” to Reopen Strait of Hormuz, The Times Reports
The UK is set to spearhead a multinational "Hormuz Coalition" alongside France and the U.S. to reopen the world's most vital oil chokepoint. Utilizing cutting-edge autonomous mine-hunting "motherships" and Type 45 destroyers, the Royal Navy aims to neutralize Iranian Maham mines and restore global energy flow.
The Royal Navy will take the lead in a multinational “Hormuz Coalition” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ensure safe passage for merchant ships, The Times reported today.
Britain and France are jointly developing the plan, which will also involve the United States and other allies. The UK is preparing to deploy mine-clearing units, including a “mothership” vessel, either a Royal Navy ship or a leased commercial vessel, equipped with autonomous uncrewed systems designed to hunt and destroy naval mines.
UK defence officials highlighted Britain’s “world-leading capabilities in terms of autonomous mine hunting,” as well as the potential use of Type 45 destroyers for force protection in later stages of the operation. A senior official told The Times: “We have world leading capabilities in terms of autonomous mine hunting, as well as fantastic destroyer capability with our Type 45s… which provides us with opportunities to avoid putting people into harm’s way.”
The plan is expected to proceed in stages: first clearing Iranian mines from the waterway, then escorting commercial shipping once the security situation stabilises.
This development follows U.S. reports of Iran laying at least a dozen naval mines in the strait and comes as the Trump administration has pressed allies to help restore the critical oil route, through which about 20% of global oil shipments normally pass.