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World
Over 40 countries will meet Monday to define military contributions to a UK-France led mission securing commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
More than 40 nations are set to convene Monday to finalize their military contributions to a European-led naval mission aimed at escorting and protecting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, contingent on a stable and sustainable ceasefire in the region. The operation is spearheaded by the United Kingdom and France.
According to Bloomberg, participating countries are expected to provide specialized capabilities including naval mine clearance, commercial ship escorting, and air defense patrols. The defensive maritime mission, under London and Paris command, seeks to reassure global shipping firms and encourage them to resume transits through the vital waterway, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
British Defense Secretary John Healey will co-chair the meeting alongside his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrain. This gathering follows preparatory sessions held by military planners in London last April, which aimed to translate political agreements into concrete operational plans.
Participating nations emphasize the mission is purely defensive and will only be activated once a ceasefire is confirmed to be holding. Healey stated, "We are turning the diplomatic agreement into practical military plans to restore confidence in navigation through the Strait of Hormuz."
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, responded by warning that any such plans would be considered an escalation of the US-Israeli war on Iran and would be met with a military response. In a statement, Gharibabadi said, "Any deployment and positioning of destroyers from outside the region around the Strait of Hormuz, under the pretext of 'protecting navigation,' is nothing but an escalation of the crisis, militarization of a vital waterway, and an attempt to cover up the real roots of insecurity in the region."
Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz—through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes—after the outbreak of war following US-Israeli strikes on February 28. Since then, the United States has imposed a naval blockade. This disruption has roiled oil and gas markets, causing a sharp rise in fuel prices and increasing pressure on consumers worldwide.
The United Kingdom will deploy one of its warships, HMS Dragon, which is capable of intercepting guided missiles, as part of the mission. The operation will not commence until a sustainable ceasefire or peace agreement is reached.
US President Donald Trump has previously criticized the UK and other NATO allies for hesitating to send naval forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He also criticized the UK for offering to send aircraft carriers too late, describing the ships as "toys."
