French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are steering a multilateral initiative aimed at re‑opening the Strait of Hormuz after it was closed by Iran following the escalation of the US‑Israel conflict. The meeting, held at the Elysee and attended by around thirty countries, seeks to establish a defensive maritime force that would operate only after a lasting ceasefire in the region.
European leaders, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, have highlighted the blockade’s severe impact on global trade, noting that one‑fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strait. They warn that continued closure risks higher inflation, food shortages, and shortages of jet fuel for airlines.
Key conditions for the proposed mission include a pledge from Iran to cease firing on neutral vessels and a guarantee from the United States that it will not block any ships entering or leaving the waterway. These safeguards mirror the terms set for similar security initiatives in Ukraine.
Washington’s deliberate absence underscores the initiative’s strictly defensive nature, focusing on safeguarding non‑belligerent states and ensuring free passage for commercial shipping once hostilities subside.
Source: www.aljazeera.com
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