Unprecedented Gathering: 40 Countries Prepare to Secure Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

SadaNews - More than 40 countries are meeting today, Monday, to discuss their military contributions to a European mission aimed at escorting commercial vessels and restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The British Ministry of Defense revealed in a statement yesterday, Sunday, that Defense Secretary Ben Wallace will chair a meeting - today, Monday - alongside his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna, which will include representatives from more than 40 countries.

This meeting will be held via remote communication technologies and is the first of its kind at the level of defense ministers under the multinational mission aimed at escorting ships and restoring maritime shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Minesweeping

These countries are expected to provide military capabilities in the areas of mine removal and ship escorting, within a defensive maritime mission led by Britain and France, aimed at reassuring commercial ships seeking to cross the strait, as confirmed by American news agency Bloomberg today, Monday.

The announcement of this meeting came just hours after an Iranian warning to both London and Paris regarding the consequences of deploying naval assets in the region, following France and Britain's decision to send warships to the Middle East.

France has sent the nuclear aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle" to the Middle East, while Britain announced last Saturday its intention to send the destroyer "HMS Dragon."

In explaining these movements, the two countries confirmed that they fall within a framework of "pre-positioning" in preparation for any potential international mission aimed at assisting with maritime security, following the establishment of a permanent ceasefire in the war.

On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France "has never thought" of deploying naval forces within the Strait of Hormuz but considered a security mission that would be "coordinated with Iran."

French President Emmanuel Macron confirms his rejection of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by any party (Reuters)

Precautionary Measure

Macron confirmed to reporters in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, the second stop on his African tour after Egypt, that he maintains his position rejecting any blockade of the strait by any party, referring to its closure from the Iranian side and its blockade from the American side.

A spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defense stated that the deployment of the destroyer "HMS Dragon" is part of a "precautionary measure" aimed at ensuring the United Kingdom is prepared to contribute to securing the strait whenever conditions allow.

Since the outbreak of the American-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has entered a phase of unprecedented disruption.

The United States has escalated its pressure on Iran by imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports and on Iranian vessels transiting through the strait, while Tehran has widely closed the strait to commercial shipping and oil tankers.

The reciprocal escalation between the two sides has exacerbated the shipping crisis in the region, amidst a major crisis shaking global trade and energy markets, with rising transportation costs and oil prices and increasing security risks facing vessels crossing the strait.