The United Kingdom (UK) and France are set to co-host a multinational meeting of defence ministers this week to discuss military coordination aimed at restoring trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz, as concerns over maritime security and global energy supplies persist.
Read More: UK deploys HMS Dragon amid Strait of Hormuz tensions
According to the British government, the virtual meeting scheduled for Tuesday will bring together representatives from more than 40 countries. UK Defence Secretary John Healey will co-chair the session alongside his French counterpart to review plans for a potential international mission focused on safeguarding commercial shipping routes in the strategically vital waterway.
📌فرانس۲۴ | نشست دفاعی بیش از ۴۰ کشور برای امنیت کشتیرانی در هرمز
بریتانیا و فرانسه اعلام کردند روز سهشنبه نشست مجازی وزیران دفاع بیش از ۴۰ کشور برای برنامهریزی مأموریت چندملیتی جهت حفاظت از کشتیرانی در تنگه هرمز برگزار میشود./فراز pic.twitter.com/U9qxtB6CGN
— روزنامه اینترنتی فراز (@FarazDaily) May 11, 2026
The initiative follows earlier discussions in London, where military planners from multiple countries examined practical options for a coordinated maritime security framework after a sustainable ceasefire in the region.
In a statement, Healey said the meeting aims to convert diplomatic understandings into operational military planning that can help restore shipping confidence in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global oil and gas trade.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions with Iran, which warned Britain and France against deploying naval assets to the region. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said any foreign military presence in the strait would face an “immediate and decisive response,” insisting that only Iran has the authority to ensure security in the waterway.
Despite the warning, both London and Paris have already announced naval deployments to the broader Middle East. France has dispatched its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, while Britain confirmed the deployment of destroyer HMS Dragon, describing the move as precautionary planning ahead of any future international mission.
French President Emmanuel Macron later clarified that Paris was not planning an independent naval deployment directly into the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that any security arrangements should be coordinated diplomatically, including with Iran.
Read More: France sends warships toward Hormuz region
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies before regional conflict disrupted shipping activity. Markets remain sensitive to any escalation, with energy prices and freight costs continuing to reflect uncertainty in the Gulf.