Britain, France to host defence talks on protecting Strait of Hormuz trade routes

Britain and France will host defence ministers from more than 40 countries on May 12 to discuss military planning aimed at safeguarding trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz, the UK government has stated.

Defence Secretary John Healey will co-chair the meeting alongside French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin, marking the first defence ministerial gathering of the proposed multinational mission, Caliber.Az reports, citing CNN.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned on May 10 against any deployment of British or French naval forces in the strategic waterway.

The UK announced on May 9 that it was deploying the HMS Dragon to the Middle East as part of what it described as a “strictly defensive” operation focused on mine clearance and the protection of commercial shipping.

France, meanwhile, said last week that it had sent its carrier strike group to the Red Sea as part of preparations for a possible mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, according to its defence ministry.

London and Paris have been leading efforts to establish a multinational framework to protect maritime traffic in the region, while encouraging broader international participation.

Healey said he has directed HMS Dragon to the Middle East “so Britain is in position to support this mission the moment it is needed.”

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov