France, UK Lead Coalition to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

France and Britain are spearheading international efforts to form a multinational coalition aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway disrupted by the ongoing conflict between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli alliance. The initiative, involving discussions with more than 30 countries, focuses on defensive measures to resume commercial shipping once hostilities end, amid warnings of a deepening global energy crisis.

The French armed forces chief, Fabien Mandon, held a video conference on March 26 with representatives from around 35 nations across all continents to gather proposals for securing the strait. A French defense ministry statement described the talks as initial discussions to assess views on the crisis and outline potential missions. "This initiative, independent of the ongoing military operations in the region, is strictly defensive in nature," the statement said. "Its purpose is to organise the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities have ceased."

Separately, French Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Nicolas Vaujour conferred with 12 naval counterparts from countries including Britain, Germany, Italy, India and Japan. "We are exchanging...