France and UK to co-host Hormuz shipping security talks

France and Britain will co-host a video-conference Friday of countries ready to contribute to a "purely defensive mission" to secure the Strait of Hormuz, the French president's office said Tuesday. President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are to co-chair the meeting to discuss a plan to "restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when security conditions allow it", it said.