Britain and France have announced they are prepared to lead a multinational military mission to help secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, despite Iran’s repeated opposition to a foreign military presence in the strategic waterway.
In a joint statement issued late Friday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron described the Strait of Hormuz as “a vital artery for the global economy”, stressing that restoring safe passage for international shipping is a matter of global importance.
The two leaders said Oman had agreed to cooperate in facilitating the safe transit of vessels through its territorial waters and reaffirmed their readiness to support a broader multinational mission aimed at protecting freedom of navigation.
“The United Kingdom and France reaffirm their shared commitment to regional stability, respect for the sovereignty of all states, and their willingness to maintain close cooperation with their partners in order to uphold global security, freedom of navigation and international law,” the statement said.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions with Iran, which has repeatedly warned against the deployment of foreign military forces in the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that responsibility for the waterway’s security lies solely with the countries bordering it.