FLASH
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Britain and France will lead military talks with about 30 countries this week, aiming to create a coalition to ensure safe passage and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed by Iran since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.
A further meeting is expected at the level of the chiefs of defence of the broad group of countries that signed the joint statement, a British defence official told AFP. The meeting will focus on military planning to enable the reopening of the strait "as soon as conditions are appropriate".
Last week, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands declared that they were ready to “contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.” The declaration was joined by 24 other countries, including Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea and several European and other countries.
On Sunday, Britain's Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, chaired an initial meeting with representatives of the six key countries plus Canada. Britain has offered to host a later summit in London or Portsmouth to finalise details and expand the coalition.
British officials said other countries could be invited to the talks, with the aim of creating a "sustainable and collective" plan to allow commercial traffic to resume, without being drawn into the wider conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a flashpoint after reported Iranian attacks on commercial ships and oil infrastructure, which have led to a dramatic rise in energy prices on world markets. Britain stresses that the mission will not be under the NATO umbrella, but an ad hoc alliance of interested partners.
The talks continue against the backdrop of calls from the United States for an international coalition, but European allies have been careful to avoid direct military involvement until major tensions subside.
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