UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps emphasized that the Red Sea must remain open and not become a restricted zone.
He expressed the UK’s commitment to preventing attacks in the region to safeguard global trade.
Shapps pointed out that previous terrorist attacks had disrupted major companies like Maersk and British Petroleum, leading them to avoid the area.
He stressed the importance of keeping maritime areas open, especially this crucial route.
He underlined the need to strengthen global security, stating that illegal attacks directly threaten international trade and maritime safety.
Shapps reiterated the UK’s dedication to countering such attacks within the framework of a law-based global system, ensuring the free flow of global trade, emphasizing the UK’s role as a key player in this effort.
The British Navy’s HMS Diamond has joined the multinational force known as the “Guardians of Prosperity.”
This force, announced by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on December 19, aims to protect navigation in the Red Sea amidst increasing Houthi rebel attacks on commercial ships heading to Israeli ports.
It includes 10 countries: the US, UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.
