The United Kingdom and France are set to hold a multinational defense meeting aimed at restoring trade flows through the Hormuz Strait.
According to a statement from the UK Ministry of Defence on May 10, UK Defence Secretary John Healy and French Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu will co-chair the first defense ministers' meeting of a multinational mission involving over 40 countries on May 12.
The meeting will be conducted via video conference and is expected to discuss military plans to protect navigation in the Hormuz Strait following a sustainable ceasefire. This follows a two-day military working group meeting led by the UK and France in London last month, which included participation from South Korea.
Healy stated, "We are converting diplomatic agreements into actionable military plans to restore confidence in shipping through the Hormuz Strait."
These discussions come as the UK and France deploy naval vessels to the region. Last weekend, France sent its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the area, while the UK announced it would dispatch the destroyer HMS Dragon.
Both nations described this deployment as a pre-positioning for an international mission to support maritime security. A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence noted that the deployment of HMS Dragon is part of a careful plan to ensure the UK is prepared to assist in securing safety in the Hormuz Strait, should conditions allow.
Meanwhile, Iran has reacted strongly to these plans. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned that any naval presence from the UK, France, or any other country in the region would face a decisive and immediate response. He asserted, "Only the Islamic Republic of Iran can establish security in this strait."
However, President Emmanuel Macron of France clarified that France has no plans to deploy naval forces to the Hormuz Strait. He emphasized that France is considering a security mission coordinated with Iran and opposes any blockade from either side, rejecting any tolls on shipping traffic to ensure safe passage.
The Hormuz Strait is a critical corridor for global energy transport. Before the onset of the US-Israel war against Iran on February 28, approximately one-fifth of the world's crude oil was transported through this strait. However, since the war began, Iran has effectively closed the strait, significantly disrupting oil shipments and leading to global market instability and soaring prices. In response, the US has initiated its own blockade of Iranian ports.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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