UK ministers consider deploying minesweeping drones to the Strait of Hormuz as tensions threaten global oil shipments.
Tensions in the Middle East are pushing the United Kingdom to consider new military technology to protect global energy supplies. British ministers are drawing up plans to send minesweeping drones to the Strait of Hormuz after Iran threatened ships traveling through the vital oil route.
The move comes as the United States urged allies to deploy naval vessels to the region over the weekend. Officials in London fear that sending warships could worsen the conflict. Instead, they are studying autonomous systems capable of safely clearing naval mines and protecting shipping.About 20 percent of the world’s oil supply normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. The threat to ships has already shaken global energy markets, with oil prices jumping from around $65 per barrel to more than $100 per barrel.UK explores drone technology for mine clearingBritish officials are evaluating the use of aerial and autonomous mine-hunting drones to reopen the shipping route. These systems can detect naval mines and trigger them safely by mimicking the movement and acoustic signals of large ships.Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed the option during an interview with the BBC on Sunday.“It is very important that we get the Strait of Hormuz reopened … There are different ways that we could contribute, including with mine-hunting drones.”He explained that the United Kingdom is working closely with international partners as it examines different solutions.“All of these things are being looked at in concert with our allies … Any options that can help to get the strait reopened are being looked at.”Autonomous minesweeping systems are seen as a lower-risk alternative compared with sending large naval vessels into an active conflict zone. Military planners believe drones could help clear sea mines quickly without putting crews in direct danger.Oil market shock raises economic fearsIran’s announcement that it could target ships using the Strait has had immediate global economic consequences. With such a large share of global oil shipments passing through the route, the disruption has pushed crude prices sharply higher.Economists warn that sustained high oil prices could increase inflation and slow economic growth in several countries. The scale of the impact will depend heavily on how long the conflict continues and whether shipping through the strait can resume safely.Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to address the situation during a Downing Street press conference on Monday. He will also announce tens of millions of pounds in support for British households facing higher energy costs.“We will continue to work towards a swift resolution of the situation in the Middle East. Because there is no question that ending the war is the quickest way to reduce the cost of living,” the prime minister will say, as reported by The Guardian.Trump urges allies to send shipsThe developing crisis has also added pressure to the relationship between Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump. The British government previously declined to allow American forces to launch an attack on Tehran from UK bases.Earlier this weekend, he publicly called on several countries to deploy naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe passage.“Hopefully, China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.Starmer later spoke with Trump by phone on Sunday night. According to Downing Street, the leaders discussed the impact of the strait’s closure on international shipping and the global economy.Octopus drones and naval options under reviewAlongside minesweeping systems, British planners are also studying the use of Octopus interceptor drones to defend ships from aerial attacks. These anti-drone systems were originally developed jointly by the United Kingdom and Ukraine to counter Iranian Shahed drones used in combat.Thousands of Octopus drones are currently being produced for Ukrainian forces. The system, officially known as the Octopus-100, was presented to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in October 2025 as part of a wider military technology partnership.Several companies manufacture the drones under license, including TAF Industries, UNWAVE, and SKYRIPER. Their full technical specifications and cost have not been publicly disclosed.While drones offer a new defensive option, Britain’s traditional naval presence in the region remains limited. The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon recently left Portsmouth and is sailing toward Cyprus, though it may take more than a week to reach the Mediterranean.For now, UK officials say drone technology could play a critical role in restoring safe navigation through one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
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