UK and France Deploy Naval Forces to Secure Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom and France are leading a multinational coalition of over 40 nations to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway has been effectively closed since March 2026, following a ten-week war between the U.S. and Iran that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28 and subsequent U.S. naval blockades.

Emmanuel Macron announced the repositioning of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle from the Mediterranean to the southern Red Sea as a preliminary deployment. He emphasized that the mission is strictly defensive and distinct from U.S. operations, intending to restore confidence among shipowners and insurers. While Macron later stated in Nairobi that France would only act in coordination with Iran and had not envisaged a unilateral military deployment, the carrier remains in the region.

Similarly, the UK has dispatched the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon from Cyprus to the Middle East. Defence Secretary John Healey announced £115 million in funding for the operation, which includes Typhoon fighter jets and autonomous mine-hunting technology such as Kraken drone boats. The mission aims to secure a route that handles roughly 20% of global oil and LNG supplies.

Iran has reacted with hostility, with officials warning that any foreign naval movements without coordination would face a decisive and immediate response. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has pressured European allies to increase their support in the conflict while simultaneously pausing his own vessel-escort operation, Project Freedom, to facilitate potential negotiations.