Macron, Starmer Push EU-Led Hormuz Plan as Trump Stays Out of Talks
France and the United Kingdom are moving to secure the Strait of Hormuz after Iran and the U.S. declared the vital shipping route open but without direct U.S. involvement.
The push by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer comes as global markets react to the reopening, while tensions remain unresolved across the region.
At a Paris summit involving roughly 50 countries, both leaders confirmed plans for a multinational maritime mission aimed at restoring long-term shipping security, according to AP News. The initiative focuses on defensive measures like mine-clearing and protecting commercial vessels through the strait.
But the effort exposes a growing divide. The United States, under President Donald Trump, is not participating in the European-led talks and continues enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports, according to Reuters and the Wall Street Journal.
Macron acknowledged the urgency but warned the current reopening may not hold as conditions on the ground remain unstable.
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“We all demand the full, immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” Macron said.
The stakes are global. The strait handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, and its recent closure during the Iran conflict triggered price spikes and supply fears across Europe and beyond.
Even with oil prices dropping after the reopening announcement, shipping groups and regulators remain cautious due to unresolved risks, including sea mines and the fragile ceasefire tied to the decision.
Military planners from allied countries are expected to meet in London next week to develop the next phase of the mission, including deployment timelines and operational scope.
For now, the waterway may be open but control over its future remains contested.
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