France and United Kingdom convene international conference to establish Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative on April 17, 2026

Key facts

• French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired an international conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris on April 17, 2026.
• The summit focused on the Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative, a defensive mission intended to restore free passage through the waterway.
• Approximately 30 to 40 countries participated in the meeting, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.
• The initiative is a response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, a chokepoint through which one-fifth of the world's oil usually passes.
• The United Kingdom (UK) has discussed the deployment of mine-hunting drones from the ship RFA Lyme Bay as part of the military planning.
• France has dispatched a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a helicopter carrier, and several frigates to the region for the mission.
• The mission is designated as strictly defensive and limited to non-belligerent countries, with the United States (US) excluded from the current discussions.