UK Deploys HMS Diamond to Red Sea.

The Red Sea is currently facing heightened security measures as the United Kingdom deploys its Royal Navy destroyer, HMS Diamond, to participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian. This mission aims to safeguard the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, ensuring the protection of international trade and countering illicit activities occurring in the region’s international waters.

The escalation in security measures comes in response to recent incidents in the Red Sea, triggered by Houthi attacks on international shipping. Reports indicate that ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial systems have been employed in targeting ships, leading major operators to suspend their operations in the affected area.

HMS Diamond, recognized as the Royal Navy’s “most advanced” warship, has been tasked with patrolling alongside three US destroyers, with an additional French warship currently positioned in the same region. In a notable achievement, HMS Diamond successfully intercepted a suspected attack drone.

Highlighting the significance of the shipping lanes in the Red Sea, the UK Ministry of Defence emphasized that approximately 50 large merchant ships traverse the Bab el-Mandeb daily, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The Ministry expressed concern over the illegal attacks on these vital routes, labelling them as an unacceptable threat to the global economy, jeopardizing regional security, and potentially causing an increase in fuel prices.

UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps emphasized the international nature of the problem, asserting that these attacks require a collaborative, global solution.