European Nations to Host Summit on Strait of Hormuz Crisis
France and Britain are organizing a significant summit in Paris, bringing together more than 30 nations. The event is aimed at finding a viable solution to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This is the first major European initiative to influence the ongoing conflict that began six weeks ago with a US-Israeli attack on Iran.
The United States, Israel, and Iran have not been invited to the summit. Europe maintains that it is not directly involved in the war, but it is already feeling the impact as energy prices rise and military resources are redirected from Ukraine.
China has been invited to the summit, although it is unclear whether it will attend at a high level. Other participants include several European leaders such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, along with Gulf and Asian states interested in ensuring safe passage for ships through the strait.
An Elysee official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the goal of the summit is to develop a “credible proposal” that represents a “third way” between the previous US strategy of maximum pressure on Iran and the resumption of hostilities. The official emphasized that there will be no military involvement in the conflict. However, the summit could serve as an opportunity to assess countries’ willingness and ability to conduct future maritime operations to secure safe shipping routes through the strait.
These operations could involve intelligence sharing, minesweeping, and military escorts, but only after the conflict has ended. The French objective is to achieve consensus among the participating nations on a non-US diplomatic approach to reopen the strait. The three main goals include ensuring the strait is not mined, preventing any tolls from being imposed, and avoiding a new status quo that threatens freedom of navigation.
Maritime operations would be conditional upon a stable ceasefire and clear navigation conditions. The summit also aims to reassure shipping companies and insurers, whose risk assessments can disrupt traffic even without direct attacks.
Steven Everts, director of the EU’s official think tank, stressed the importance of Europe’s role in resolving the crisis but urged a focus on diplomatic solutions before considering military measures. He emphasized the need to negotiate with Iran and avoid allowing the US and Pakistan to dominate the situation.
Europe’s influence in the region has diminished over the past decade, particularly with its deteriorating relations with Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv. Recently, the EU designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group, and EU foreign ministers will discuss trade sanctions on Israel during a meeting in Luxembourg next week.
Ties with the US have weakened since Donald Trump’s return to power, as he has criticized European leaders for not supporting Washington’s efforts. This has created a “trust deficit” that would be challenging to overcome if Europe wanted to engage seriously in negotiations.
A diplomat from a country expected to attend highlighted logistical challenges, questioning how many participants could make meaningful contributions. Germany, which is involved in the planning, faces constitutional restrictions on sending vessels to a war zone. It could only participate with an international mandate and the approval of the German parliament.
The value of hosting the summit lies in assembling a diverse group of countries beyond the usual suspects. Including East Africa, East Asia, Europe, and Latin America could help coordinate diplomatic pressure and increase the likelihood of being heard.
The summit’s origins trace back over a month when French President Emmanuel Macron visited Cyprus, an EU member state attacked by Iranian drones early in the conflict. At that time, France and Britain were forming separate coalitions and had differing views on US involvement, with Macron insisting on excluding the US from the process.
As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced increasing criticism from Trump for not providing more support for the war, the plans gradually aligned. In a sign of France’s determination to keep Trump at arm’s length, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was not invited, as he is seen as close to Trump.
In a press conference in Berlin, Merz hinted at a potential shift in stance regarding US involvement, stating a desire to “discuss the participation of US armed forces” in the initiative. Meanwhile, French organizers hope for China’s participation, describing it as “very welcome” and emphasizing the interest of many Asian nations in the crisis.
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