Theresa May snubbed plea to join US-led naval mission to protect ships in the Gulf as Boris Johnson signs up to mission – The Sun

THERESA May refused to join a US-led naval mission to protect ships in the Gulf, Donald Trump’s most senior aide has revealed.

America’s National Security Advisor John Bolton said the former PM turned down Washington DC’s requests for help as a major row with Iran erupted.

But new premier Boris Johnson ripped up her policy and signed up to the mission, dubbed Operation Sentinel, last week.

On a two day visit to London, John Bolton said: “We were pleased PM Johnson’s government has agreed to participate in Operation Sentinel, which reflects a change from the prior Government.

“Britain’s original preference was to participate in some kind of European operation in the Gulf.

“It might have had a couple of British ships in it. I’m still looking for what the European ships would do.

“We felt the proposal we were making was far more likely to be successful.”

Mr Bolton also revealed Mr Trump and Mr Johnson are speaking over the phone up to twice a week since he entered No10.

Claiming the pair were “off to a roaring start”, Mr Bolton said: Boris Johnson has been the Prime Minister for what, 18 days? They’ve already had 5 or 6 phone calls”.

Former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is believed to have advised against the US plan, fearing it would look like the UK backed Washington’s harder line on Iran.

Reversing that, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace last week offered the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan and a frigate HMS Montrose to the US, which are already in the region.

It followed the seizure by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards of the British tanker, Stena Impero, near the Strait of Hormuz.

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