Britain hosts over 30 nations for military planning on a defensive UK-France mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, pending a lasting ceasefire.
LONDON: Military planners from over 30 countries will gather in London for two days of talks starting Wednesday on a multinational mission to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The UK defence ministry said the meeting will advance detailed planning for reopening the strategic strait when conditions allow.
“The task today and tomorrow is to translate diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait and support a lasting ceasefire,” Defence Minister John Healey said.
He added he was confident “real progress can be made”.
The conference follows international talks co-chaired by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last Friday.
Over 40 countries attended those diplomatic discussions.
Britain and France have emphasised that any naval force would be entirely defensive.
They stated it would only be deployed once a lasting peace in the region is agreed.
The United States and Iran, as warring parties, did not attend the Paris talks.
A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran was due to expire at midnight GMT on Tuesday.
US President Donald Trump said shortly before the deadline that he was extending it to allow more time for negotiations.
Both sides have accused the other of breaching the ceasefire terms.
Trump also stated he was maintaining a US blockade of Iranian ports.
The military planning conference will take place at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in northwest London.
This site serves as the UK’s command centre for overseeing joint military operations.
