Royal Navy ‘not as ready for war as it should be’, says First Sea Lord

A clear warning amid the Iran war

General Sir Gwyn Jenkins has said that the UK Navy has “work to do” before it is ready for combat, amid calls from armed forces leaders to up defence spending.

Just hours earlier, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth slammed the UK’s response to the Iran war, in which US and Israel are involved.

US President Donald Trump yesterday also slammed Britain’s response to the war, as he said that the country should “get their own oil” from the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s criticisms were echoed by Hegseth, who questioned where the “big bad Royal Navy” was in the US’ faltering war in the Middle East.

Speaking to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, General Sir Gwyn said that the Navy would still fight if it had to.

“If we were told to go to war, of course we would”, he said

“But are we as ready as we should be? I don’t think we are. We have work to do and I am completely dedicated to the mission.”

Meanwhile, Trump while posting on his social media, Truth Social, seemed to hit out at Keir Starmer, insisting it was time for the UK to police the Strait themselves, adding it should “just take” the fuel it needed from Iran.

He insisted the UK should “build up some delayed courage” and “go to the Strait”.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was also seen to hit out at the UK during a press conference on Tuesday, insisting the Strait of Hormuz was not just the responsibility of the US, adding “there’s supposed to be a big bad Royal Navy”.

Meanwhile, Starmer, asked about Trump saying he was ​strongly considering pulling the United States out of ​NATO, told reporters on Wednesday that “whatever the ​pressure on me and ‌others, ⁠whatever the noise, I'm going to act in ​the British ​national ⁠interest in the decisions ​that I ​make”.