Axios: The US and the UK are preparing a meeting to form a naval coalition in the Strait of Hormuz

🔻 Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing two European diplomats and two sources familiar with the matter, reports that the US and Britain plan to hold a high-level meeting in London next week. The meeting’s focus will be to examine the formation of an international coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

✍ According to Axios, the final timing and agenda of the meeting are not yet certain, but it may include defense ministers, senior military commanders from Western countries, and some countries in the region.

The possible participation of Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, and Gen. Dan Kin, commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army, has also been mentioned. A White House official confirmed the joint planning by Washington and London to hold the meeting, but the British Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the matter.

Axios says that reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping is an important part of any US strategy for exiting the war with Iran, as well as efforts to stabilize global energy markets. According to the media outlet’s sources, Washington wants its allies to deploy equipment and facilities, including mine countermeasure vessels, warships, and drones, to help secure shipping lanes.