Macron, Starmer and Merz Press Europe-Led Hormuz Mission While Urging U.S. Participation
French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushed a Europe-led plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
They co-hosted a Paris conference with about 50 countries to push a Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative for reopening the strait. Macron and Starmer said any reopening must be permanent and that the mission would be strictly defensive and limited to non-belligerent states.
Officials clarified forces would deploy only after active fighting and bombardment had ended, with Paris and London keeping Washington informed and coordinating without US branding. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged US participation, saying Germany could provide mine-clearance assets and maritime intelligence but would need parliamentary approval and a UN Security Council mandate. PBS reported the US was not part of planning, and oil prices dropped after Iran's foreign minister said commercial passage would stay open during a 10-day ceasefire.
Early coverage framed the initiative as a Europe-led, non-US effort; later reporting highlighted a shift as leaders openly sought American involvement. Fox News and PBS drove much of that change by revealing plans for a post-conflict defensive force, the scope of earlier multilateral talks, and Merz's call for US participation and a secure legal basis. Social posts noted Europe charting an independent course, questioned whether the route can be reopened without the US, and flagged diplomatic rifts over invitations to EU leaders.
📌 Key Facts
- President Emmanuel Macron and UK leader Keir Starmer will host a Paris summit Friday by video conference with non-belligerent states to advance a Europe-led plan to reopen and secure the Strait of Hormuz; about 50 countries attended a related Paris gathering and Britain has previously convened more than 40 nations around the initiative.
- The proposed Europe-led Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative is described as strictly defensive, will exclude current belligerents and be limited to non-belligerent countries, and is intended to be deployed only after active fighting and bombardment have ended; military planners are due to meet in London next week to work out details.
- France and Britain say they are keeping Washington informed and coordinating on the initiative, but the United States is not currently part of the planning.
- Macron and Starmer welcomed announcements that the Strait of Hormuz is open and insisted that freedom of navigation must be fully, immediately and permanently restored; Starmer said the current opening during a 10-day Lebanon ceasefire must become lasting and workable.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted that passage for commercial vessels would remain 'completely open' for the duration of the 10-day ceasefire, a development that coincided with a plunge in oil prices.
- A senior European official said the goal for Hormuz is 'no blockade, no toll, no nothing,' while stressing that Iran remains 'the first problem.'
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged U.S. participation in the Europe-led mission, said Germany could contribute mine-clearance assets and maritime intelligence, and added that any German contribution would require parliamentary backing and a 'secure legal basis' such as a U.N. Security Council resolution before joining.
- Former U.S. President Donald Trump posted that the U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ships and ports remains in force 'UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE.'
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly said after a Paris conference that he wants U.S. participation in the Europe-led mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
- Merz said Germany could contribute mine-clearance assets and maritime intelligence to the mission.
- He insisted Germany would need parliamentary backing and a 'secure legal basis' such as a UN Security Council resolution before joining.
- Macron and Starmer publicly welcomed the U.S. and Iran announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is open but insisted freedom of navigation must be permanently restored.
- Macron said after a Paris gathering of about 50 countries that 'we all demand the full, immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by all parties.'
- Starmer said the current opening during a 10-day Lebanon ceasefire must become 'both lasting and a workable proposal.'
- Oil prices plunged after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that passage for commercial vessels would remain 'completely open' for the duration of the 10-day ceasefire.
- Trump posted in all caps that the U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ships and ports remains in force 'UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE.'
- PBS reports the U.S. is not part of the planning for the Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative, which Macron says will be 'strictly defensive' and limited to non-belligerent countries, with military planners meeting in London next week.
- Confirms Macron and Starmer will host a Paris summit Friday with non-belligerent states by video conference to advance the Hormuz reopening plan.
- Clarifies the mission will deploy only after active fighting and bombardment have ended, and will be strictly defensive and post-conflict.
- Reports a senior European official saying the goal is 'no blockade, no toll, no nothing' in Hormuz and stressing Iran remains 'the first problem.'
- Adds that Britain has already convened more than 40 nations around the initiative in earlier talks without U.S. participation.
- Specifies that the envisaged force excludes current 'belligerents' but that Paris and London are keeping Washington informed and coordinating despite the mission's non-U.S. branding.