UK says Ukraine could play key role in securing Strait of Hormuz

Ukraine could play a significant role in international efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Britain’s defence minister said, citing Kyiv’s battlefield-tested drone technology as among the most advanced globally.

Speaking during a visit to Kyiv on April 11, UK defence minister Al Carns said Ukrainian innovations developed during the war with Russia could prove valuable in the Middle East, particularly in countering Iranian long-range Shahed drones, Caliber.Az reports via British media.

Carns said that Ukraine has developed some of the world’s most advanced technologies during the war and noted that these capabilities could be useful in the Middle East, particularly in efforts to counter Shahed drones, including as far as the Strait of Hormuz.

Britain this month convened talks involving more than 30 countries on how to reopen the strategic waterway amid an Iranian blockade, which has disrupted global oil supplies following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that Kyiv had taken part in consultations on maritime security, drawing on experience gained over four years of war with Russia. Ukraine has already deployed more than 200 experts to the Middle East to assist in counter-drone operations.

Carns said his visit aimed to reassure Kyiv that the war in Ukraine remains Britain’s top defence priority. He also downplayed tensions within NATO after US President Donald Trump criticised European allies for not joining the conflict with Iran, saying the alliance remained “the bedrock of our security.”

Despite providing funding, training and military support, Britain has much to learn from Ukraine’s battlefield innovation, particularly in drones, data use and artificial intelligence, Carns said.

"It's a revolution in military affairs, and we need to move faster," he added.

Carns said incorporating such advances into Britain’s long-term defence investment plans would take time, with a report expected this spring.

He also urged Ukraine to accelerate exports of its advanced technologies to secure a foothold in global markets before competitors catch up. Kyiv issued its first export licences in February as it seeks to boost its defence industry, though some executives warn delays could cost opportunities.

A UK-based facility producing Ukrainian interceptor drones began operations in February. Another Ukraine-linked defence firm headquartered in Britain, UForce, manufactures the Magura naval drone.

By Aghakazim Guliyev