France and the United Kingdom will host a conference on the mission in the Strait of Hormuz, with 40 countries participating
On Friday, April 17, a conference co-chaired by France and the United Kingdom will be held in Paris to discuss a potential defense mission in the Strait of Hormuz.
This was reported by BFMTV, citing the Élysée Palace.
The meeting will take place via videoconference under the leadership of French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
About 40 countries are expected to participate in the discussions; they may join a multilateral mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the region once the security situation stabilizes.
The initiative is being discussed against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf region. According to media reports, the U.S. has announced increased maritime surveillance near Iranian ports, stating its readiness to respond to any threats to navigation.
Earlier reports also cited statements from the U.S. regarding restrictions on vessels that may be linked to Iranian tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Currently, Iran is unable to promptly restore safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz due to the problem of minefields in the waterway and the lack of technical means to fully neutralize them.
The United Kingdom plans to hold a new round of talks with its allies regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, which remains a key route for global energy supplies. Representatives from dozens of countries will participate in the meeting, though the level of delegations will be lower than before.
