French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a meeting of international allies on Friday to discuss a potential multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz after the ongoing conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel ends. The meeting, held from 1200 GMT and attended by around 30 leaders from European, Asian, and Middle Eastern nations via video link, focused on restoring free navigation and addressing economic fallout from the blockade. Iran had blocked the strategic waterway following the start of the war with the US and Israel on February 28, causing global energy prices to spike. The US is now imposing its own blockade on Iranian ports despite a fragile ceasefire.
Macron and Starmer affirmed their commitment to establishing a strictly defensive military mission to protect commercial shipping and support mine clearance operations. The initiative, outlined in an Elysee Palace invitation, would only deploy after the war ends and with assurances from Iran and the US on non-aggression toward vessels. European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, attended the talks, which excluded Iran, Israel, and the United States as belligerent parties. A French presidential official stressed the need for Iran to commit to not firing on ships and for the US to stop blocking port access. Planning for the mission is underway, with UK military chiefs set to meet in Northwood the following week.
The meeting also highlighted concerns over more than 20,000 seafarers stranded on hundreds of ships stuck due to the blockade. Starmer's participation comes amid domestic scrutiny over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, given Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein. Officials reiterated that the proposed force would not involve the US and would focus on tasks like mine-sweeping and preventing tolls on passage.
Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer are positioning themselves as architects of post-war maritime order without resolving how enforcement would work under current hostilities. Their proposed mission hinges on promises from Iran and the US—both now acting as blockaders—that neither has shown willingness to give. With 20,000 seafarers stranded and energy markets unstable, any delay prolongs real hardship for global trade routes. The plan offers no immediate relief, only a conditional framework that may come too late.
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