U.S. and U.K. plan London summit to build Strait of Hormuz maritime coalition
LONDON, July 26. The United States and United Kingdom are coordinating a high-level conference in London, planned for next week, to build an international coalition protecting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, two European diplomats and two additional sources familiar with the discussions told Axios. The meeting would draw defense ministers and senior military commanders from Western nations and countries in the region.
Key takeaways
- The U.S. and U.K. are coordinating a high-level conference in London, planned for next week, to build an international coalition protecting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The meeting would draw defense ministers and senior military commanders from Western and regional nations, with Defense Secretary Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine under consideration to attend.
- Iran began attacking commercial vessels in the strait two weeks ago, prompting daily U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets along the country's southern coast, though no Iranian attacks on ships have been reported over the last four days.
- The escalation followed the collapse of talks among Oman, Iran and Qatar over a new arrangement for the strait, after which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps began firing on ships.
- The U.S. is asking allies to deploy de-mining vessels, naval vessels and drones to help secure the shipping lanes.
LONDON, July 26. The United States and United Kingdom are coordinating a high-level conference in London, planned for next week, to build an international coalition protecting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, two European diplomats and two additional sources familiar with the discussions told Axios. The meeting would draw defense ministers and senior military commanders from Western nations and countries in the region.
Attendees and timeline
Defense Secretary Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine are under consideration to attend, according to the sources. The itinerary and date remain under discussion and have not been finalized. The White House and the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment. The British Embassy in Washington declined to comment.
Iran attacks and U.S. military response
Iran began attacking commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz two weeks ago. The U.S. has since conducted daily strikes against Iranian military targets along the country's southern coast. Over the last four days, no Iranian attacks on commercial ships have been reported.
U.S. defense officials are split on why. Some say American strikes have effectively eliminated Iran's military capability around the strait. Others say Iran retains the ability to attack ships in the area.
On Wednesday, President Trump threatened to bomb bridges and power plants, including in Tehran, if Iran resumes attacks on vessels in the strait. Iran responded by threatening infrastructure in Gulf states aligned with the United States.
Breakdown that started the escalation
The hostilities followed a collapse in talks among Oman, Iran and Qatar over a new arrangement for the strait. After those negotiations failed, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Tehran for consultations, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps began firing on ships. An Omani delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday to resume discussions on a mechanism to reopen the strait.
U.S. request to allies
Washington is looking to build on conversations the United Kingdom and France held with multiple countries in recent months about a potential Hormuz coalition, the sources said. Many governments have set a precondition that hostilities in the strait end before any international maritime mission can operate safely.
The U.S. is asking allies to deploy de-mining vessels, naval vessels and drones to help secure the shipping lanes, the sources said. "The Americans are looking for a way out, and they want our help," one European diplomat said.