US officially launches joint maritime coalition to patrol Gulf waters
UK, Bahrain and Australia are only countries to join US-led initiative, despite global recruitment efforts
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-officially-launches-joint-maritime-coalition-patrol-gulf-waters
Published date: 28 August 2019 21:26 UTC
The United States launched its joint maritime security initiative in the Gulf, with the support of Australia, the United Kingdom and Bahrain... The US says the initiative is charged with protecting merchant vessels around the Strait of Hormuz - through which a third of the worlds oil passes - following Iran's seizure of a British oil tanker in the Strait last month...
... The US announced its decision to form the protective force in July, days after Iranian forces downed a US drone near the strait... The US has been trying to recruit allies for its maritime security coalition for weeks, but only the UK, Australia and Bahrain have joined. France has declined to take part, as has Germany...
... Australia has sent a warship, surveillance aircraft and an unknown number of troops to assist, while the UK has sent at least two warships. It was unclear what kind of assistance Bahrain may provide.