The United Kingdom is assembling a military coalition of 40 countries to protect the Strait of Hormuz
On Tuesday, April 7, the United Kingdom is holding a major military conference attended by representatives from more than 40 countries.
The Financial Times reports this.
The main goal of the meeting is to develop a strategy for ensuring the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz following the end of the active phase of the war in the Middle East.
The virtual conference brought together countries that last month officially declared their readiness to guarantee the free passage of ships through this strategic waterway.
The meeting will be opened by a high-ranking British military officer directly from the Northwood operational base.
“The virtual conference will be attended by representatives of countries that signed a statement last month expressing their readiness to join efforts to ensure safe navigation,” sources familiar with the event’s preparations note.
Key coalition members include leading world powers, notably France, Germany, Canada, and Japan.
South Korea, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, which have a direct interest in the region’s stability, have also joined the discussion.
A distinctive feature of this initiative is that the international coalition plans to operate without the direct participation of the United States. British officials emphasize that “appropriate measures” for an independent response to threats are being considered at the Northwood base.
However, forming a unified naval force faces certain technical difficulties. The main problem lies in the uneven distribution of resources among participating countries, which complicates the coordination of joint operations at sea.
“Forming a naval coalition is complicated by the varying nature of the resources available to each participant,” informed sources explain.
Some states have specific equipment but require cover from their partners.
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to U.S. and Israeli ships.
Iran rejected Trump’s proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a ceasefire.
