France and Britain chaired a summit of around 40 countries in Paris on Friday to coordinate plans for restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz once the war ends. Macron and Starmer were joined by the leaders of Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands among others. The US was not invited.
The meeting agreed in principle to establish a strictly defensive multinational military mission to reopen the strait when conditions allow. The mission could involve intelligence sharing, mine clearance, military escorts and coordination with neighbouring countries. A planning meeting between militaries is expected next week.
The stakes are enormous. Twenty percent of the world’s oil and gas passes through the strait. More than 20,000 seafarers are stranded and around 200 commercial vessels are trapped. Europe is facing a jet fuel shortage. The longer the strait stays closed the worse the economic damage gets.
Trump has repeatedly urged allies to join the US blockade. Britain, France and the others have refused, saying joining the blockade would amount to entering the war. This summit was their answer.
Sources: Reuters · Al Jazeera · Times of Israel · Al Monitor
