French President Emmanuel Macron will host a diplomatic summit in Paris on Friday with the UK to address the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, deliberately excluding US President Donald Trump. The move comes as European nations increasingly sidestep Washington over its 'belligerent' stance towards Iran.
Macron announced the gathering after speaking with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, calling for the strait to be opened 'as soon as possible.' The summit will include 'non-belligerent countries ready to contribute, alongside us, to a multilateral and purely defensive mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the strait when security conditions allow.'
The White House responded defiantly, with spokesperson Olivia Wales stating: 'The United States doesn't need help from any other country - the blockade is working perfectly, implemented by the greatest Navy in the world, while Iran's navy is at the bottom of the ocean.' Trump himself had previously declared the strait 'permanently open' after discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
British officials have expressed concerns that excluding the US may further anger Trump and create additional problems. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made clear his desire to keep Britain at arm's length from escalating tensions, telling the BBC: 'We're not supporting the blockade. My decision has been very clearly that whatever the pressure, and there's been some considerable pressure, we're not getting dragged into the war.'
The coalition's primary objective is to guarantee that shipping firms feel secure navigating the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities have ended. The strategy encompasses rescue plans for stranded vessels, de-mining operations to clear Iranian mines, and the establishment of a programme for military personnel.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated on Tuesday that the mission depends on regional stability, saying: 'The mission we are referring to could only be deployed once calm has been restored and hostilities have ceased.' Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO allies for doing 'nothing' to assist in securing the strait, threatening US withdrawal from the alliance.
