Overview
- Sir Gwyn Jenkins said in a Swedish newspaper interview this week that the Royal Navy can fight now but is not as ready as it should be and expects to reach full warfighting readiness by the end of the decade.
- President Donald Trump criticized the UK for staying out of the fight with Iran and told Britain to buy fuel from the US or take oil from the Strait of Hormuz.
- US commentator Pete Hegseth mocked the “big, bad Royal Navy” for not sending ships to support US‑led operations tied to the Iran crisis, which has strained traffic through the Strait and pushed up oil prices.
- A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the Navy is ready to fight on advanced operations and cited a generational funding boost, including an extra £270 billion this Parliament.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer restated targets to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 with further increases planned, as NATO moves toward a 5% defence and security goal by 2035 and Sir Gwyn notes some allies also lag in readiness.