PARIS, April 17 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on ‌Friday that more than a ‌dozen countries were ready to contribute assets to ​a defensive mission aimed at restoring the freedom of navigation of the Strait of Hormuz.

France and Britain ‌chaired a meeting ⁠in Paris of 49 countries to discuss preparations for ⁠a possible multinational defensive mission to protect shipping in the Strait of ​Hormuz once ​conditions allow.

"We ​will take this ‌forward with a military plan conference in London next week where we will announce more detail on the composition of the mission, and over ‌a dozen countries have ​already offered to ​contribute assets," ​Starmer told reporters alongside the ‌leaders of France, Germany ​and Italy.

"Reopening ​the strait is a global necessity and a global responsibility," he ​said.

(Reporting ‌by John Irish in Paris and ​Sam Tabahriti in London, editing ​by William James)