40 countries prepare secure navigation Hormuz what details

The British government announced that Britain and France will host a multinational meeting of defense ministers on Tuesday to discuss military plans aimed at restoring trade flow through the Strait of Hormuz. A statement issued by the British Ministry of Defense on Sunday read: "Defense Secretary John Healey will co-chair a meeting of more than 40 countries, alongside his French counterpart, Minister Catherine Vautrin, in the first meeting of defense ministers within the framework of the multinational mission." The ministry said in a statement that the virtual meeting follows a two-day meeting in London last April between military planners who discussed the practical aspects of a mission led by Britain and France to protect navigation in the vital waterway, after reaching a sustainable ceasefire. Healey said: "We are turning the diplomatic agreement into practical military plans to restore confidence in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz." This comes after France and Britain sent warships to the Middle East. Paris deployed the nuclear aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle" to the region, while London announced on Saturday the dispatch of the destroyer "HMS Dragon". The two countries confirmed that these moves fall within the framework of "pre-positioning" before any possible international mission to help protect shipping. A British Ministry of Defense spokesperson told AFP that the deployment of "HMS Dragon" comes as part of "precautionary planning" to ensure Britain's readiness to contribute to securing the strait when conditions allow. In contrast, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned Britain and France, saying that their warships, "or the ships of any other country", would face a "decisive and immediate response". Gharibabadi added: "Only the Islamic Republic of Iran is capable of establishing security in this strait." Later Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France "never thought" of a naval deployment inside the Strait of Hormuz, but rather a security mission "coordinated with Iran". Speaking to reporters in Nairobi, Macron explained that he stands by his position rejecting any closure of the strait by any party and rejecting "any fees" to guarantee the passage of ships in this strategic corridor. Britain and France had announced last month that plans to secure the strait were beginning to take shape. The British Ministry of Defense said that the deployment of "HMS Dragon" would enhance commercial shipping confidence and support demining efforts after the cessation of hostilities. Before the outbreak of the American-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, about a fifth of the world's oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz. But navigation has declined sharply since the outbreak of the war, after Iran largely closed the strait, leading to global market disruption and high oil prices, before the United States later imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in response.