On Wednesday and Thursday, military strategists from more than 30 countries will convene in London to develop a detailed plan for resuming shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The conference will be held at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in the north of the British capital, where participants will translate into practical terms the decisions previously agreed upon at international forums, including a 51-nation summit in Paris last week.
Representatives from European NATO members, several Asian and Middle Eastern countries — including France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, and the UAE — as well as other allies with a stake in the security of Gulf shipping routes have been invited to the meeting. The primary objective is to build a coalition operation to ensure the safety of commercial vessels and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen near-total disruption to traffic in recent months due to military risks and a blockade.
Discussions will cover the format of an international coalition, the distribution of military assets, escort routes, and countermeasures against Iranian fast boats, mines, and drones that have previously attacked vessels and obstructed passage. The plan is to establish a robust convoy escort mechanism encompassing naval forces, aviation, intelligence, and coordination with regional ports.
The authorities do not yet intend to fully open the strait prior to the conclusion of a final deal with Iran; Washington has previously called directly on allies to present concrete security plans and commitments to implement them. In London, participants will also discuss how to prevent a recurrence of the supply crisis, given that approximately 20% of the world’s oil — and dozens of tankers per day — passes through the Strait of Hormuz.