Royal Navy leaves Arabian Gulf as Iran tensions rise
Feb 27th 2026
Britain will have no warships in the Arabian Gulf for the first time since 1980 after HMS Lancaster left and HMS Middleton is set to depart in March, with the Middleton to be replaced by an autonomous minesweeper amid a stretched escort fleet and rising regional tensions.
- For the first time since 1980 no British warship will be in the Arabian Gulf after HMS Middleton leaves Bahrain in March.
- HMS Lancaster departed late last year and there are no plans to replace Middleton with a manned vessel.
- The Middleton will be replaced by an autonomous drone minesweeper such as the Harrier to detect and identify undersea threats.
- The Royal Navy's escort fleet is at a low with six destroyers and seven frigates while two carriers remain operational.
- Defence officials and former commanders blame decades of under-investment and delayed funding for the depleted fleet.
- The UK retains a Maritime Component Command in Bahrain and commands Combined Task Force 151 for counter-piracy while US carrier strike groups prepare for operations near Iran.