UK and France to head Strait of Hormuz mission with crunch military meeting within days

UK and France to head Strait of Hormuz mission with crunch military meeting within daysKeir Starmer has announced the UK and France will lead a mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz 'as soon as conditions allow' - branding it a 'global necessity' to get the shipping route openCommentsNewsDave Burke Political Correspondent 15:19, 17 Apr 2026Updated 15:37, 17 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesKeir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron in Paris(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)The UK and France will lead a "peaceful" mission to protect the Strait of Hormuz to prevent economic chaos, Keir Starmer has announced.‌The Prime Minister said military planners from more than a dozen countries will meet in London next week to iron out details of the mission, which will include mine clearance. He said it would be launched "as soon as conditions allow" - describing opening the shipping route as a "global necessity and a global responsibility".‌Standing alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, Mr Starmer said: "I can confirm that, along with France, the UK will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions allow.‌"This will be strictly peaceful and defensive as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance. We invite all nations with an interest in the free flow of global trade to join us.READ MORE: David Lammy says public 'see through' Trump insults and 'special relationship' standsOPINIONLizzy BuchanInside No10 as 'livid' Starmer sacks official and orders probe into Mandelson vettingPeter Mandelson