The UK and France said they reached an agreement with Oman aimed at improving maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a joint statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron described the strait as “a vital artery for the global economy,” adding that restoring safe transit for ships of all nations is a matter of global concern. They said Oman has agreed to cooperate with the UK and France to help ensure its sovereign territorial waters are safe for navigation.

The statements also pointed to broader allied readiness, with the two countries indicating they are prepared to maintain close cooperation with partners and, if needed, support an expanded multinational mission to help safeguard freedom of navigation in the strait. Separately, reporting around the same developments said France has maintained mine-countermeasures assets in the region, intended to support safe resumption of navigation in the waterway.