Great Britain Does Not Have The Ships Or Allies To Confront Iran

Defense News: In a naval confrontation with Iran, Great Britain can find neither ships nor friends

WASHINGTON – It was a knife-twist that originated in Florida, but it was felt across the Atlantic.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, appearing Monday on Fox News via a live feed from the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Orlando, was asked by anchor Brian Kilmeade what the United States’ role was in helping the United Kingdom get its tanker back, which was seized by Iran in a tit-for-tat raid at sea after the U.K. seized an Iranian tanker suspected of smuggling oil to Syria.

"The responsibility ... falls to the United Kingdom to take care of their ships," Pompeo said.

America’s top diplomat went on to say that the U.S. had a role in policing the Strait of Hormuz, but that “the world has a big role in this, too, to keep these sea lanes open,” he continued. “I’m convinced we’ll do that.”

It was a loaded answer, and the subtext wasn’t missed in the United Kingdom: The U.K. has the responsibility to protect its own ships, but doesn’t have the Navy it needs to do it.

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WNU Editor: The money quote from US Secretary of State Pompeo .... "The responsibility ... falls to the United Kingdom to take care of their ships". Translated .... you are on your own.

Update: Royal Navy warship becomes first to escort British tankers through Gulf strait (Washington Post).