US and UK to Host Conference Seeking International Support for Strait of Hormuz Security

The United States and the United Kingdom are preparing to host an international conference in London to discuss measures for ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting, expected to convene next week, aims to establish an international coalition dedicated to safeguarding commercial shipping in this strategically vital waterway.

According to reports citing European diplomats and other sources, the conference's primary focus will be on forming a coalition to protect commercial vessels traversing the strait. While the exact date and schedule are still under discussion, the event is anticipated to draw high-ranking defense ministers and military leaders, potentially including U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine.

The formation of such a coalition, however, may hinge on conditions set by participating nations, notably the cessation of armed conflict in the Persian Gulf region. The U.S. seeks commitments from its partners to deploy assets like mine-clearing vessels, naval units, and drones to enhance security along the shipping route.

This diplomatic effort unfolds against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. Despite a memorandum of understanding signed on June 18 to halt conflict initiated on February 28, U.S. military strikes against Iran commenced on July 8. U.S. Central Command stated these actions were a response to Iran's actions against commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with attacks on U.S. military bases in the Middle East, accusing Washington of violating the ceasefire agreement, a claim President Donald Trump subsequently dismissed.