French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are chairing an international summit in Paris this Friday to discuss securing the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting involves around 40 non-belligerent countries, with many participants joining via video conference, to finalize early plans to reopen the vital oil route.
The Strait is currently subject to blockades by both Iran and the United States, triggering what is being described as the worst oil price shock in history. This crisis stems from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, and the Paris talks mark an effort by sidelined nations to mitigate the impact of a conflict they neither initiated nor joined.
The France and UK-led coalition intends to focus on purely defensive and diplomatic measures, discussing the deployment of a multinational force to ensure security and free-flowing trade. Participating countries have indicated they are ready to provide warships, personnel, and demining support, though they insist the operation will only kick in once the war ends or a ceasefire is reached.
While the initiative is seen as an attempt by Europe to reinsert itself into a crisis shaped by U.S. and Israeli decision-making, some Europeans remain diverged over how to conduct the mission to secure the sea lanes.