International
Chiefs of Staff of 35 countries discuss resuming navigation at Strait of Hormuz, France says
France's Ministry of the Armed Forces announced today that the chiefs of staff of the armed forces from 35 countries met virtually to form a coalition aimed at resuming navigation in the Strait of Hormuz after the cessation of hostilities.
In a statement, the ministry said that the meeting, organized by the French Chief of Staff via video conference, allowed participating countries to register their positions regarding joining a coordinated initiative to enhance maritime security in this strategic area.
The ministry did not disclose the countries that took part in the meeting.
The statement added that the initiative was not related to ongoing military operations in the region and has a purely defensive nature, reiterating that several countries expressed willingness to help secure the strait but do not wish to be involved in attacks.
It is worth noting that France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands had announced last week that they could contribute to efforts to ensure the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.