Necva Tastan Sevinc
13 April 2026•Update: 13 April 2026
- Summit, to be held this week, aims to advance 'coordinated, independent, multinational plan' to safeguard international shipping, says British prime minister
The UK and France will co-host a summit this week with countries willing to advance plans for a multinational mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the two countries’ leaders announced Monday.
Emmanuel Macron said on the US social media company X that the initiative would focus on establishing a “peaceful multinational mission” to secure maritime routes through the strategic waterway, emphasizing that the effort would be “strictly defensive” and separate from parties involved in the conflict.
He added that the mission is intended to be deployed “as soon as circumstances permit.”
The announcement comes hours after US President Donald Trump said a blockade on Iranian ports would take effect at 1400 GMT on Monday.
The US naval blockade announcement followed rare direct talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad over the weekend aimed at ending the war that began on 28 February, but the negotiations failed to produce an agreement.
The summit is a part of broader French-UK efforts to push for a diplomatic resolution to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Macron stressed that “no effort must be spared” to achieve a swift and lasting settlement through diplomacy, calling for a framework that would allow all parties in the region to live in peace and security.
He underlined that any durable solution must address key issues, including Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities, its regional actions, and the urgent need to restore “free and unimpeded navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz.
Macron also pointed to the importance of stabilizing Lebanon, saying the country must return to a path of peace with full respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Reaffirming France’s position, he said Paris stands ready to “play its full part” in diplomatic and security efforts, as it has sought to do since the early days of the conflict.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the ongoing closure of the strategic waterway is “deeply damaging."
“The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is deeply damaging. Getting global shipping moving is vital to ease cost of living pressures,” he said on US social media company X.
He added that London has already convened dozens of nations sharing the goal of restoring freedom of navigation.
The summit, to be held this week, aims to advance a “coordinated, independent, multinational plan” to safeguard international shipping once the conflict subsides, Starmer further added.
