The United Kingdom and France are set to co-host a multinational meeting on Tuesday aimed at turning diplomatic efforts over the Strait of Hormuz into a practical security operation, as Western powers seek to stabilise the strategically important waterway after months of conflict and disruption.
Issued on: 12/05/2026 - 06:46Modified: 12/05/2026 - 12:46
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More than 40 nations are expected to join the virtual gathering of defence ministers, co-chaired by UK Defence Secretary John Healey and French minister Catherine Vautrin, in what London described as the first ministerial-level meeting for the planned multinational mission. The talks come at a delicate moment for the region. Although a ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel has eased fears of an immediate escalation, tensions continue to simmer and maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely restricted. The narrow waterway, which links the Gulf to the Arabian Sea, normally carries around a fifth of the world’s oil supplies. Since the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran in late February, however, shipping through the strait has been heavily disrupted after Tehran largely closed the route and imposed restrictions on maritime traffic. France positions aircraft carrier for possible mission in Strait of Hormuz Ahead of the meeting, Healey said the UK and its partners were focused on restoring confidence in global shipping routes. "We are turning diplomatic agreement into practical military plans to restore confidence for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz," he said. Traffic restrictions have resulted in a squeeze on global energy supplies and a sharp rise in oil prices in recent months, and renewed concerns about the vulnerability of international trade routes. France and the UK have begun positioning military assets in the region in preparation for a possible future security mission. France has deployed the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, while the UK announced at the weekend its destroyer HMS Dragon was being sent to the Middle East as part of what officials described as “prudent planning”.
