European leaders have set out plans for a coordinated defensive mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, once security conditions allow, following talks involving more than 40 countries.
The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany agreed the proposal during an international video conference on Friday, aimed at ensuring the strategic waterway remains open to global shipping.
French President Emmanuel Macron said, "Recent events are encouraging, even if we should remain prudent" and welcomed Iran’s announcement on Hormuz reopening, saying it “goes in the right direction." He said countries involved could not accept “any privatisation of the Strait of Hormuz”, including “any toll system”, and confirmed a neutral, independent mission would be established. A follow-up meeting will take place in London next week.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the mission under discussion would be defensive in nature and follows the ceasefire agreement. He added that participating nations had agreed to accelerate military planning.
Starmer said around a dozen countries are prepared to contribute assets, with further details on the mission’s structure expected next week.
Friedrich Merz said Germany was willing to contribute, noting that involvement from the U.S. would also be “desirable.”
“I require a decision by the federal government, a mandate from the German Bundestag and a sound military concept,” Merz said, adding that Germany’s role could include reconnaissance and mine-clearing operations.
“We will therefore take part in the further military planning discussions that are taking place and would also like to see the United States of America participate, if possible. We believe this would be desirable,” he added.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 29 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
France will become the first country in the European Union to reimburse anti-obesity drugs through its public healthcare system, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced on Thursday (28 May).
Norway is set to come under France’s nuclear umbrella, marking a significant shift in European security arrangements as concerns grow over the United States’ long-term commitment to the region.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says ongoing conflict, funding pressures and international travel restrictions are complicating efforts to contain a fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Russia and Kazakhstan signed 15 agreements during President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Astana on Thursday (28 May), including deals on Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant and expanded oil cooperation with Russia.
The trial of a 21-year-old accused of planning an Islamist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna entered its final day on Thursday (28 May), with a verdict expected later in the evening.
France will become the first country in the European Union to reimburse anti-obesity drugs through its public healthcare system, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced on Thursday (28 May).
A Canadian man accused of selling sodium nitrite and suicide-related items online to people in multiple countries pleaded guilty on 29 May to aiding the suicides of 14 people in Ontario, after prosecutors said recent legal rulings made murder charges impossible to pursue.
An Inca child mummy discovered high in the Andes more than a century ago has been returned to an indigenous community in north-western Argentina after spending 119 years in a museum collection.
A growing majority of Europeans believe the European Union should pursue a more independent foreign policy and reduce its reliance on the U.S., according to a new survey published on Friday.
India is expected to experience its weakest monsoon in more than a decade in 2026, raising concerns over crop production, food prices and economic growth as the country also grapples with inflationary pressures linked to the Iran conflict.
The United Nations (UN) added Israel and Russia to a blacklist of parties suspected of committing conflict-related sexual violence on Friday (29 May). The move prompted Israel to announce it would sever ties with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
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