UK Refuses US Warship Request for Strait of Hormuz, Offers Drones

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused a request from US President Donald Trump to deploy British warships to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian threats, instead offering mine-hunting drones and missile interceptors. The refusal comes after Iran effectively closed the strategic waterway on February 28, 2026, in retaliation for US-Israeli airstrikes, driving global oil prices to about $100 a barrel and doubling heating oil prices in the UK, affecting 1.5 million households. Starmer will pledge heating oil subsidies and hold a Downing Street press conference on March 16, 2026, while Trump has warned NATO faces a "very bad" future if member states fail to help secure the vital oil shipping route.