Military planners from over 30 countries are set to gather in London for two days of discussions focused on reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and restoring safe maritime movement, reported News 18.
Push for coordinated global response
The talks, beginning Wednesday, are being led by the UK Ministry of Defence. The aim is to move beyond diplomatic understanding and develop a coordinated military plan to secure shipping routes once conditions allow.
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Officials indicated that more than a dozen countries have already expressed willingness to participate in a proposed mission. The effort is being spearheaded by the United Kingdom and France, with a focus on protecting vessels passing through the critical waterway.
From consensus to concrete planning
The London meeting follows a virtual conference held last week that saw participation from around 50 countries across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The gathering was seen as a sign of growing alignment on the need to ensure maritime security, particularly after comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting Washington may not require allied support.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey outlined the objective of the current talks, saying the priority is to turn broad agreement into actionable plans, per News 18.
"The task… is to translate the diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait and support a lasting ceasefire," he said, adding that he expects "real progress" from the discussions.
Focus areas of the talks
According to officials, the agenda includes assessing military capabilities, establishing command-and-control structures, and exploring deployment strategies for forces in the region.
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The proposed mission would only be activated once a sustainable ceasefire is achieved. The discussions reflect ongoing concerns over stability in one of the world's most important energy corridors, with global attention fixed on ensuring uninterrupted maritime trade.
