Abu Dhabi, UAE – January 12th, 2024 – Press release by EMASoH on the unlawful boarding of the merchant vessel St. Nikolas in the Gulf of Oman.

The U.S. 5th Fleet commander transited the Strait of Hormuz aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) with naval counterparts from France and the United Kingdom, May 19.

From January 13 until July, Denmark will be in charge of the European naval operation AGENOR in the Strait of Hormuz. FOC since February 2020, AGENOR ensures the free movement of shipping in waters critical for the world trade.

The Danish Navy (Søværnet) will deploy a Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate to the Hormuz Strait to join the French-led operation Agenor.

The European-led mission in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH) is now operational, the French Ministry of Armed Forces stated yesterday. The EMASOH headquarters, composed of Belgian, Danish, Dutch and French officers, is based at the French naval base in Abu Dhabi.

The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) frigate De Ruyter (F804) will leave for a six months deployment in the Persian Gulf starting on January next year, the Dutch government announced on November 29.

HMS Kent yesterday left Portsmouth to embark on operations to the Gulf, the Royal Navy announced in a statement.

The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of navigation and safe passage through the Gulf by playing a leading role in a new international maritime security mission. The mission will see the Royal Navy working alongside the US navy to assure the security of merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.