UK Permanent Joint Headquarters
UK military command centre at Northwood; hub for the 51-nation coalition planning.
Last refreshed: 18 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why is the UK running the coalition military planning rather than NATO or the US?
Timeline for UK Permanent Joint Headquarters
Scheduled to host 51-nation military chiefs week of 20 April
Iran Conflict 2026: Paris coalition is 51 nations, not 40- Where is the UK military headquarters running the Iran coalition?
- The UK Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) at Northwood in north-west London is hosting Coalition military chiefs to draft rules of engagement for the 51-nation defensive mission.Source: GOV.UK (Macron-Starmer statement)
- What is Northwood headquarters and why does it matter for Hormuz?
- Northwood (PJHQ) commands all UK joint overseas operations and co-locates with NATO's Maritime Command, making it the natural hub for the multinational Hormuz Coalition planning.
- Is the US part of the 51-nation coalition planning at Northwood?
- No. The US was not in the room for the Macron-Starmer joint statement and is not part of the 51-nation Coalition, which is strictly defensive.Source: GOV.UK (Macron-Starmer statement)
Background
The UK Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), located at Northwood in north-west London, emerged as the nerve centre for the 51-nation Coalition assembled in response to Iran's Hormuz blockade. Military chiefs from the Coalition are scheduled to meet at Northwood in the week of 20 April 2026 to draft rules of engagement for a defensive maritime mission, following the Macron-Starmer joint statement of 17 April.
Established in 1994, the PJHQ commands all UK joint military operations overseas. It sits under the Chief of Joint Operations and reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff. Northwood also hosts NATO's Maritime Command (MARCOM), giving it a ready infrastructure for multinational maritime coordination that the Coalition is leveraging.
The choice of Northwood as the Coalition's planning hub reflects the UK's lead role alongside France in assembling the force. The US is not party to the Coalition; all 51 member states committed to a strictly defensive mission contingent on a sustainable Ceasefire.
