Macron and Starmer to co-host summit on multinational mission for Strait of Hormuz securityStrait of Hormuz security
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are co-chairing a summit in Paris on April 17 with leaders from about 40 non-belligerent countries. The meeting aims to plan a strictly defensive multinational mission to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after the current US-Iran-Israel conflict ends. The strait, vital for global oil and gas trade, has been disrupted by hostilities including mines and a US blockade.
This initiative seeks to restore free navigation and stabilize energy markets amid soaring oil prices from the closure. France and the UK emphasize independence from warring parties to avoid escalation, while addressing risks like potential Iranian retaliation elsewhere. The mission could involve demining, escorts, and surveillance once conditions allow.
European Leaders
Macron and Starmer view the mission as a diplomatic alternative to the US blockade, which they see as risky escalation. They stress its defensive nature, exclusion of belligerents like the US, Iran, and Israel, and focus on protecting global trade. The summit builds on prior calls for reopening the strait through multilateral effort.
- The Strait of Hormuz spans just 21 miles at its narrowest, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
- During the 1980s Tanker War, Iran and Iraq struck 411 ships, including 239 oil tankers.
- UNCLOS Article 38 guarantees transit passage through international straits like Hormuz.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
