French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a video conference with European allies on Friday to discuss the potential deployment of a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities in Iran have ended, according to France24.
The meeting came as Iran announced it would reopen the strategically vital waterway to commercial shipping for the duration of the current ceasefire - a development Macron welcomed but said did not go far enough.
The French president called for the strait's "unconditional" reopening, signaling that European powers regard temporary or conditional access to the passage as insufficient given its central role in global energy markets.
A waterway of global consequence
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and serves as the transit point for roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply. Any prolonged disruption to navigation through the strait has immediate consequences for energy prices and supply chains worldwide.
The conflict in Iran has raised sustained concerns among Western governments about freedom of navigation in the region. The prospect of a multinational naval or security presence reflects efforts by European powers to ensure that commercial shipping lanes remain open regardless of how the broader situation in Iran evolves.
Coordinating a European response
France24 International Affairs Editor Rochelle Ferguson provided additional context on the discussions, noting the significance of European allies convening specifically to address post-war security arrangements before a formal resolution to the conflict has been reached.
The video conference underscores a broader effort among European nations to play an active role in shaping the security architecture of the region once fighting ceases, rather than reacting after the fact.
Details about which countries participated in the call, the proposed composition of any multinational force, or a timeline for its potential deployment have not yet been made public.
Ceasefire status and next steps
Iran's announcement that the strait would remain open for the remainder of the ceasefire suggests negotiations over the waterway's status remain ongoing. European leaders appear to be using the ceasefire period to build consensus on a longer-term security framework.
Macron's call for unconditional access indicates that France, at minimum, will push for guarantees that go beyond the terms of any temporary ceasefire agreement.
