UK and France Lead Escort Mission to Safeguard Freedom of Navigation in Strait of Hormuz
The UK and France announced they will lead a multinational mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The mission is strictly defensive and will be deployed once lasting peace is achieved in the region. This plan was confirmed during an international meeting co-chaired by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, though the US and Iran were not in attendance.
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- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 13:04
- 🔍 Collected: April 18, 2026 at 13:31 (27 min after Published)
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ME-Iran War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Paris, 17th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Britain and France today stated that they would lead a multinational mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that the force would be entirely defensive in nature and would only be deployed after a lasting peace is achieved in the region.
According to AFP, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed this deployment plan while co-chairing an international meeting. The meeting focused on ensuring unimpeded trade through this critical shipping lane.
This meeting was primarily conducted via video conference, with 49 countries from Europe and Asia participating, while the United States and Iran were not present.
● "Neutral" Mission
Starmer stated that this international mission would commence "as soon as conditions permit."
He said: "This will be a strictly peacekeeping and defensive mission, aimed at ensuring the safety of commercial shipping and supporting mine clearance efforts." Starmer added after the meeting that more than a dozen countries had agreed to participate in the escort mission.
Starmer and Macron welcomed Tehran's reopening of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and Macron also called for "a full and unconditional reopening by all parties concerned" of the Strait of Hormuz.
Macron called it a "neutral" mission, and "completely independent of the belligerent parties."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni personally attended the meeting, stating that Italy "is ready to participate" in relevant actions, but emphasized that hostilities must cease first.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also present in Paris, stated that it would be "more ideal" if the United States could participate in this mission.
● Preventing Global Economic Impact
U.S. President Trump stated on social media that he had rejected NATO's offer to assist in maintaining security in the Strait of Hormuz, warning NATO "not to intervene."
It is unclear whether he was referring to the multinational meeting in Paris, as NATO was not involved in the relevant discussions.
Starmer stated: "The world needs the Strait of Hormuz to be fully open, as it relates to how we maintain price stability and prevent the global economy from being impacted."
He welcomed Iran's announcement of resuming activities in the Strait of Hormuz but also warned that "we must ensure this arrangement is lasting and practical."
Starmer's office said that military chiefs from various countries are expected to meet next week at the UK military command headquarters in Northwood, near London, to further discuss the details. (Compiler: Liu Wen-yu) 1150418
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Paris, 17th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Britain and France today stated that they would lead a multinational mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that the force would be entirely defensive in nature and would only be deployed after a lasting peace is achieved in the region.
According to AFP, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed this deployment plan while co-chairing an international meeting. The meeting focused on ensuring unimpeded trade through this critical shipping lane.
This meeting was primarily conducted via video conference, with 49 countries from Europe and Asia participating, while the United States and Iran were not present.
● "Neutral" Mission
Starmer stated that this international mission would commence "as soon as conditions permit."
He said: "This will be a strictly peacekeeping and defensive mission, aimed at ensuring the safety of commercial shipping and supporting mine clearance efforts." Starmer added after the meeting that more than a dozen countries had agreed to participate in the escort mission.
Starmer and Macron welcomed Tehran's reopening of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and Macron also called for "a full and unconditional reopening by all parties concerned" of the Strait of Hormuz.
Macron called it a "neutral" mission, and "completely independent of the belligerent parties."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni personally attended the meeting, stating that Italy "is ready to participate" in relevant actions, but emphasized that hostilities must cease first.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also present in Paris, stated that it would be "more ideal" if the United States could participate in this mission.
● Preventing Global Economic Impact
U.S. President Trump stated on social media that he had rejected NATO's offer to assist in maintaining security in the Strait of Hormuz, warning NATO "not to intervene."
It is unclear whether he was referring to the multinational meeting in Paris, as NATO was not involved in the relevant discussions.
Starmer stated: "The world needs the Strait of Hormuz to be fully open, as it relates to how we maintain price stability and prevent the global economy from being impacted."
He welcomed Iran's announcement of resuming activities in the Strait of Hormuz but also warned that "we must ensure this arrangement is lasting and practical."
Starmer's office said that military chiefs from various countries are expected to meet next week at the UK military command headquarters in Northwood, near London, to further discuss the details. (Compiler: Liu Wen-yu) 1150418
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.