- Chancellor approves £115 million for multinational mission to
support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz
- Mission will aim to safeguard commercial shipping when
conditions allow, with Britain and France jointly leading
efforts
- Reopening the Strait is key to our economic security and
easing pressure on household bills.
- Announcement follows UK and France led meeting of [insert
number] nations to outline contributions to the multinational
mission
£115 million has been approved by Chancellor to help reopen the Strait of
Hormuz and reduce costs for families and businesses across the
UK.
The Treasury funding backs the UK-led Multinational Hormuz
Mission, announced by Prime Minister on 17 April, which aims to
secure the Strait when conditions allow and reopen the vital
trade route.
The package was announced following a meeting chaired Defence
Minister and French counterpart,
Minister Catherine Vautrin, which brought together over 40
nations to discuss contributions to the multinational mission.
The closure of the strait has driven up global energy prices,
disrupted supply chains, and increased costs for households and
businesses in the UK and around the world.
The cash boost will provide the mission with operational
capabilities to support its strictly defensive role - reassuring
commercial shipping operators and clearing mines.
The Chancellor's move will see extra cash provided to the MOD,
above their existing budget.
Chancellor said:
“This is not our war, and one we have no intention of joining.
“However, we do have to deal with the consequences, which are
being felt by working people across Britain — at the petrol pump,
on energy bills and in the weekly shop.
“We can help bring those costs down by working with allies and
partners to ensure the free flow of trade - that is why this
action is crucial.”
A fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's closure of the route has disrupted global supply chains
and driven up prices for households and businesses.
Working with allies and partners to enable the re-opening of this
shipping lane, when conditions allow, is a strategic priority for
the Government to ease cost-of-living pressures at home.
The investment announced today will provide essential equipment
for the British contribution to the multi-national
mission in the Strait of Hormuz, while also representing the next
stage of development for the UK's Hybrid Navy: more autonomous,
more resilient, more lethal – and British built.
The UK and France continue to lead international
efforts to translate diplomatic consensus on freedom of
navigation into a practical, coordinated military plan. Today's
meeting follows a meeting of military planners from 44 nations at
the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters on the 22-23
April to converge national perspectives into
a multinational plan to ensure the full opening of
the Strait, once conditions allow.
The plan is strictly defensive, aimed at restoring confidence for
commercial shipping along this vital trade route. With
participation from over 40 nations, it is both multinational and
credible.
