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.
Read more ....
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).
7 comments:
"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."
If the US asked Britain to intercept the Iranian ship at Gibraltar, then this is crap.
I believe that DJT wants a slower 2 or 3 year economic victory over Iran instead of a faster military one. So military provocations by Iran are declined but contained.
Rubbish, they can, they have, and they are.
they have already failed twice
Pompeo just told the world if your nation has vital interests that don't overlap with the USA's, you best bulk up and prepare to defend yourself. Europe is in for a shock.
Most Asian nations have already been building up their defenses.
Agreed; spot on!
The US made it far to easy for Europe over the years, time for them to suck it up and contribute.
The US sucked Britain into the mess, Britain fell for it and lost accordingly.
thought previous news reports said May turned down US offers of help
Post a Comment