The announcement from the British Ministry of Defense comes after Tuesday evening's meeting between defense ministers from around 40 countries about what can be done to secure shipping through the strait.
A press release states that other countries also made concrete promises about what they intend to contribute to the multinational defensive operation that will be activated "when circumstances make it possible". It does not say who they are.
The British are sending unmanned mine-sweepers, boat drones and Typhoon fighter jets to patrol the area, among other assets. The destroyer HMS Dragon, which is already en route to the region, will also be part of the operation.
The Strait was also on the agenda earlier on Tuesday, when EU defense ministers met.
According to the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the door was left ajar to expand the operation in the Red Sea, which has been ongoing since 2024 - known as Aspides - to include the Strait of Hormuz once the war is over.
Kallas said the fact that several countries have promised to contribute to the effort played a role.
"Aspides is already making a crucial contribution to protecting shipping in the Red Sea, but the effort could be expanded to the strait," she said after the meeting, according to the AFP news agency.
This is a turnaround from March, when the defense ministers at a similar meeting were against an expansion of the operation.
