Axios: US and UK plan a London meeting to form a maritime coalition for the Strait of Hormuz

The news outlet Axios reported on Friday, 24 July 2026, citing informed sources, that the United States and the United Kingdom are planning a high-level meeting in London next week on forming a possible international coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine may attend, and defence ministers and senior military commanders from Western and West Asian countries would also be invited.

Axios wrote that the agenda and exact timing of the meeting have not been finalised and are still under discussion. According to the report, Washington wants its allies to send equipment to the region, including demining vessels, naval warships and drones, to secure the shipping lanes.

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping has been described as a key element of any US path out of the war with Iran, as well as of efforts to calm global energy markets. Tanker traffic through the strait fell last week to its lowest level in months and Brent held above 100 dollars, which is why any sign of a safe-passage mechanism matters for the oil market, the exchange rate and the Tehran bourse.