France and Britain will lead an international mission to protect ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this at a press conference in the French capital, Paris. The BBC and the AFP news agency reported. The mission will be launched "as soon as conditions allow," it said.
- This will be entirely peaceful and defensive, a mission to ensure commercial shipping and support mine clearance, Starmer said.
On Friday afternoon, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened to commercial shipping.
The announcement came at the same time as a number of European heads of state and government gathered in Paris to discuss the situation around the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting was chaired by Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
At the press conference, Macron said that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had "very serious consequences for the entire planet and the global economy". He therefore welcomed the latest development.
- Diplomacy brings us forward, says the French president.
Denmark supports
Denmark's acting Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen (S), also participated in the meeting. She subsequently wrote on the social media X that Denmark supports the work to ensure free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Thank you to President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a constructive meeting today with allies and partners. Denmark strongly supports the efforts to ensure free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and find a lasting solution to the conflict, writes Mette Frederiksen.
Among the other partners is Germany. At the press conference in Paris, Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that he wants to contribute to securing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but that he needs a mandate from home.
- I need a decision from the federal government, a mandate from the German Bundestag and a well-founded military plan, says Merz.
He adds that he would like to see the United States contribute to the mission.
- We will therefore participate in the further discussions on the military planning that are taking place, and would also like the United States to participate, if possible. We believe that it would be desirable, says Merz.
The Strait of Hormuz has been practically closed to civilian shipping during the war between Iran, Israel and the United States. The war began at the end of February.
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