Defence Secretary: Red Sea strikes offer direct blueprint for how the UK must lead

The Defence Secretary has said the UK's strikes against the Houthis in the Red Sea should serve as a "direct blueprint for how the UK must continue to lead".

Grant Shapps, speaking at Lancaster House with all four service leaders present, said "enough was enough" regarding the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

He also said the precision strikes by the UK and US were authorised because the Houthis "chose to ignore" clear warnings.

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"The result is that the Houthis have been dealt a blow," he said. "Our decisive response in the Red Sea and our uplift in support for Ukraine offers a direct blueprint for how the UK must continue to lead in the future.

"Offering our unwavering support to our allies in times of struggle, galvanising global response to any malign actors seeking to break rules-based international order and acting decisively when the moment calls for us to defend ourselves, deter and lead."

He did also say, however, that there is "no precise recipe" for considering whether the Houthi attacks have been successfully deterred.

Mr Shapps also said the strike against the Houthis was intended as a "single action" rather than a campaign of military attacks.

"Nobody can say that we did not give the Iranian-backed Houthis every possible warning to cease and desist. We made it very clear," he said.

The Defence Secretary added that the UK is currently facing "unstable, irrational" powers around the world.

"Can we really assume that the strategy of mutually assured destruction, that stopped wars in the past, will stop them in the future?

"When applied to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard or North Korea? 

"I am afraid we cannot."

He said this was especially true now there is "another new worrying consideration".

"Our adversaries are more connected with each other. For example, we've seen how Iranian proxies are causing havoc, from Israel to the Red Sea," he said.

"Russia has what the two countries describe as a 'no limits partnership' with China, with whom they conduct regular joint exercises.

"Meanwhile, Putin is relying on Iranian drones and North Korean ballistic missiles to fuel his illegal bombardments in Ukraine.

"With friends like these, the world is becoming more dangerous and has done in recent years," he added.

Mr Shapps also announced plans to send 20,000 British soldiers, sailors and aviators across Europe to take part in a huge Nato exercise later this year

Exercise Steadfast Defender will involve the deployment of Navy, Army and RAF members to the 31-nation drill across Europe.