LONDON, April 22 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
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UKand Franceconvenemilitaryplanners to advance multinational mission to re-open the Strait of Hormuz.
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Over30nationsexpectedtoattendtheconference at UK's Permanent Joint Headquartersin North London.
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Military planners will turn diplomatic consensus intoa detailed military plan for the Strait when hostilities end.
Militaryplannersfrom over 30 nationswilltoday(Wednesday 22April)advancedetailed planningto reopen the Strait of Hormuzin atwo-dayUK-hosted conference.
Theplanning talkswill take place atthe UK's Permanent Joint Headquartersat Northwood, North London.
The work ispart of the UKand French leadershipof a multinational coalitionto reopen the Strait.The sessionswilladvancemilitaryplans toreopen the Strait, as soon asconditions permit, following a sustainable ceasefire agreement.
The planning sessionsbuild onthe progress madelast weekbythe Prime MinisterSirKeir Starmerand French President Emmanual Macronataninternational summit of 51 countriesin Paris.
At the Summit,they calledfor the unconditional, unrestricted, and immediate re-openingof the Strait of Hormuzandconfirmedtheestablishmentof anindependent and strictly defensive multinational mission to protect merchant vessels, reassure commercial shippingoperatorsand conduct mine clearance operations.
Speaking ahead of the conference, the UK Defence Secretary John Healey MP, said:
Today's multinational planning conference matters. The task, today and tomorrow, is to translate the diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait and support a lasting ceasefire. I am confident that, over the next two days, real progress can be made.
International trade, energy security and the stability of the global economy depend on freedom of navigation. By building on our common purpose, strengthening multinational coordination and planning for effective collective action, we can help reopen the Strait, stabilise the global economy and protect our people.
On behalf of people in Britain and internationally whose security and prosperity depend on their success, we are grateful to the planners for their urgency and expertise. We look forward to the outcome of this work.
The UKand France areworking to ensure that themilitary plan involves as many partners as possible and bringstheexpertiseofeach nationtogetherin support of our shared interests.
The planning conference willtake place over two-days, allowing for detailed discussions on military capabilities,commandand control, and how military forces can deploy to the region.
These talks come as Iran continues itseffectiveillegalclosureof thecriticalinternationalshipping in theStrait of Hormuz,through which a fifth of the world's oil passes.The closure has driven up global energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and pushed up costs for households and businesses in the UK and around the world.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
