France has firmly ruled out deploying warships to the Strait of Hormuz, even as US President Donald Trump calls on allies to secure the vital shipping route. French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin stated on Thursday that there is "no question of sending any vessels to the strait of Hormuz" while the conflict escalates. She emphasised France's "purely defensive position" and confirmed no plans to move the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier from the eastern Mediterranean.
Trump, in posts on his Truth Social platform, urged the UK, China, France, Japan, South Korea and other nations to send warships to the waterway, which Iran has blockaded in retaliation for US-Israeli airstrikes. The blockade has caused the largest oil supply disruption in history, sending global prices soaring. Tehran has declared any tanker heading for the US, Israel or their allies a legitimate target, with 16 tankers attacked since late February.
International response to Trump's call has been muted. The UK Ministry of Defence said it is discussing "a range of options" with allies, while Energy Secretary Ed Miliband mentioned considering mine-hunting drones. Japan's senior politician Takayuki Kobayashi said the threshold for sending warships is "very high", though not legally impossible. South Korea stated it is monitoring developments and exploring measures to secure energy routes.
French President Emmanuel Macron had earlier indicated a "purely defensive" escort mission could be prepared, but only after the "most intense phase" of the US-Israeli war on Iran ends. So far, the US has not deployed its own navy to escort tankers through the strait.
