> Starmer refuses to send warships to Strait of Hormuz. PM rejects Trump’s call for reinforcements to stave off mounting economic crisis

> France will never take part in operations to unblock Hormuz Strait amid hostilities, says Macron

> European countries reject Trump’s call for help to reopen strait of Hormuz

> The Royal Navy's strength has been drastically weakened by years of cuts; the events of the past week are the prime example of how the Senior Service has fallen.

> Together, the French Navy has 19 out of its 21 major surface vessels at sea or preparing for operations – by contrast, the UK is still struggling to deploy one

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/15/starmer-sn...

https://www.reuters.com/world/france-will-never-take-part-op...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/16/europe-donald-...

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2180044/british-navy-analy...

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/france-royal-navy-briti...