The United Kingdom and France will jointly host a multinational defence ministers’ meeting on Tuesday (May 12) to discuss military plans aimed at restoring and protecting maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz, the British government said.
The announcement came just hours after Iran issued a strong warning to both London and Paris against deploying warships to the strategic waterway.
According to a statement from the UK Ministry of Defence, Defence Secretary John Healey will co-chair the virtual meeting alongside French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin, with participation from more than 40 countries.
The talks follow a two-day planning session held in London in April, where military officials discussed operational details for a proposed multinational mission led by the UK and France. The initiative aims to safeguard shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz following a sustained ceasefire arrangement.
“We are turning diplomatic agreement into practical military plans to restore confidence for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Healey said.
The UK and France have already increased their military presence in the region. France has deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, while the UK has sent the destroyer HMS Dragon as part of what both governments describe as pre-positioning efforts ahead of any formal mission.
However, Iran strongly opposed the move. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned that British, French, or any foreign warships in the region would face a “decisive and immediate response.”
“Only the Islamic Republic of Iran can establish security in this strait,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron later clarified that France had not planned a direct naval deployment into the Strait of Hormuz, but rather a coordinated security mission intended to maintain freedom of navigation without escalating tensions.
Britain said the deployment of HMS Dragon was part of “prudent planning” to ensure readiness to support maritime security and future mine clearance operations once hostilities subside.
Before the conflict escalated earlier this year, roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments passed through the Strait of Hormuz. However, disruptions following rising tensions have severely impacted shipping flows, triggering volatility in global energy markets.
