The proposed return passage of Victorious became a test of innocent-passage rights and British credibility, but officials disagreed over whether the force could be defended or whether a confrontation would escalate. American officials feared Britain might provoke a crisis and then demand United States support, while senior British leaders were prepared to risk the carrier rather than accept a political defeat. Britain reinforced the area with HMS Centaur, while two destroyers prepared to make the passage under air cover from both carriers. Indonesia’s offer of the Lombok Strait created a face-saving outcome: Britain retained its stated rights without forcing the exact confrontation both sides had been preparing for.
Notable Point · 1:04:31-1:12:46
Brinkmanship and a face-saving route through the straits
British leaders debated whether enforcing passage justified the risk, then used carriers, destroyers, and an alternative route to preserve deterrence without a clash.