France and Britain have announced they will lead a multinational force to ensure free navigation through the critical Strait of Hormuz. This mission is intended to be purely defensive and is contingent upon reaching lasting peace in the region.

France and Britain said on Friday that they would lead a multinational mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while emphasising the force would be entirely defensive and only deployed once lasting peace in the region was agreed. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the force was being set up as they co-chaired international talks in Paris focused on ensuring free-flowing trade through the critical shipping corridor. The...