UK says 26 countries back multinational mission to secure Strait of Hormuz
A joint statement by 26 countries on Thursday backed a multinational military mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK government said in a statement.
“The United Kingdom, France and 24 partners support collective diplomatic, economic and military capabilities to secure the waterway,” the statement published by the UK Ministry of Defense said.
It said defense ministers and representatives from 38 countries met on May 12 in support of an “independent and strictly defensive” mission focused on protecting shipping and mine-clearance operations.
“Freedom of navigation under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) must be protected,” the statement added.
