Expected discussions in Britain with the aim of forming a coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz

Britain and France are chairing talks involving about thirty countries this week with the aim of forming a coalition that will undertake the task of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has closed since the outbreak of war in the Middle East, according to what a British defense official told Agence France-Presse.

Last week, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands announced their readiness to “contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.” Then 24 other countries supported this statement.

“Another military meeting is expected to be held between the chiefs of the defense staff of the broader group that signed the agreement… later this week,” the official added to AFP.

The Times newspaper reported that British Armed Forces Chief of Staff Richard Knighton chaired a meeting of the first six countries in addition to Canada on Sunday.

The British official told AFP that other countries would likely be invited as well.

He said, “We realize that we have a role in forming this coalition, and in leading the world to develop a plan that guarantees the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible.”

He added that Knighton is working “in close coordination with Fabien Mandon,” Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces.

The Times reported that the United Kingdom has offered to host a subsequent summit in Portsmouth or London to agree on the details and establish the coalition that will ensure the reopening of the Strait “as soon as appropriate conditions exist” for that.

The Guardian newspaper, citing a Defense Ministry official, reported that a meeting of the chiefs of staff would be held later this week. “I expect that at some point in the near future, some kind of security conference will be held regarding the Strait of Hormuz,” the source said.