International meeting in Paris to discuss securing navigation in Strait of Hormuz

France and Britain are co-chairing the meeting in Paris, which aims to explore ways to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to send a message to the United States that a number of its allies are prepared to contribute to securing the strategic waterway if appropriate conditions are met.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attend the meeting, along with leaders and officials from European, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, while others will participate via video conference. China has also been invited, though its participation has not been confirmed.

The meeting comes amid rising tensions in the region, following Iran’s closure of the Strait to non-Iranian vessels and U.S. restrictions on ships linked to Iranian ports. These developments have caused widespread disruption to maritime trade and shipping routes.

Britain, France, and other countries stress that any involvement in blockade-related measures could mean direct engagement in the conflict. At the same time, these countries express readiness to contribute to reopening the Strait through a multinational mission, following a permanent ceasefire or the end of the crisis.

According to a note sent to invited countries, the meeting aims to reaffirm support for freedom of navigation and respect for international law. It also aims to address economic challenges facing the shipping industry and the safety of more than 20,000 stranded sailors and affected commercial vessels.

Additionally, The meeting will discuss preparations for a possible multinational defensive maritime mission to ensure navigational security, including intelligence sharing, mine-clearing operations, and naval escort activities, with final details to depend on developments.

A concluding statement is expected to outline the framework of the initiative without specifying individual national commitments, while the outcomes will later be presented to the United States.

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ANHA