The UK is preparing an aircraft carrier for possible deployment to the Middle East, reducing the time it would take to be readied.
This does not mean that Portsmouth-based HMS Prince of Wales, which is used to carry fighter jets and helicopters, will be sent into the Gulf as conflict escalates in the region, but the preparedness of the Royal Navy’s flagship is being increased, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
The Independent understands no decisions to deploy the Prince of Wales have been taken.
An MoD spokesperson told The Independent: “We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus.
“Since the strikes began, we’ve had British jets in the sky shooting down drones and have sent additional assets to the region to further reinforce our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone-busting missiles.
“HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness, and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment.”
Acknowledging the reports on Saturday evening, US president Donald Trump continued a growing spat with UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer over his reluctance to get involved in the conflict.
“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
It is still understood only one aircraft carrier is being made ready, and not for deployment to the Middle East specifically.
Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is the Royal Navy’s flagship. Increasing its preparedness does not stop her from undertaking other planned missions.
Additionally, the US has started using British bases for “specific defensive operations” to prevent Iran from firing missiles into the region, the MoD has said.
A Merlin helicopter is also being sent to the region to help with surveillance from the air and RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets are continuing air operations over Jordan, Qatar and Cyprus.
Meanwhile, more American bombers have landed in Britain as Mr Trump warned Iran would be “hit very hard” in another round of strikes.
The first 146ft B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening, and three more followed on Saturday morning.
Sir Keir Starmer has granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases.
Armed forces chief Sir Richard Knighton said he would expect the US to launch missions from the Gloucestershire base “within the next few days”.
A second government charter flight carrying British citizens from Oman landed at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Saturday as efforts to help people trapped in the war zone continue.
A third will be leaving Muscat, Oman, on Sunday, and the Foreign Office is also exploring options to charter a flight from Dubai to bring people back from the Middle East, the Press Association has reported.
The latest arrivals join more than 9,000 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began in the region.
It comes as Kemi Badenoch said the prime minister is “too scared to make foreign interventions” and that the UK is “in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not”.
Speaking at the Conservative Party’s spring conference in Harrogate, Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir was “sitting on the fence” when it comes to the conflict in the Middle East, adding that last week’s by-election won by the Greens has “spooked” the Labour Party.
She said: “Now Keir Starmer is too scared to make foreign interventions for fear of upsetting a tiny section of that electorate.
“Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq War; nobody sensible is suggesting that we should drop bombs without a second thought.
“But Keir Starmer spent days consulting lawyers, plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on.
“Canada and Australia had the moral clarity to do so immediately and unequivocally. Even now, our prime minister is sitting on the fence. We are in this war, whether Keir Starmer likes it or not.”
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