Thirty "non-belligerent" countries have joined the conference for security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz convened on Friday by Emmanuel Macron, following a similar pattern to the "volunteer coalition" in support of Ukraine also promoted by the French president.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni personally attended the meeting at the Élysée Palace, followed by video conference by several European and Latin American countries. The United States has been left out of the meeting, despite Merz's attempts to reach out to Washington.
"We will not enter into a coalition with the Americans simply because we are not part of this conflict," warned a spokesperson for the Élysée, emphasizing that the purpose of the conference will be to launch "a strictly defensive mission" after the cessation of hostilities.
"There is a need for a third way in the face of the maximum pressure exerted by the United States and Israel on Iran, the resumption of war, and the destruction caused by Iran in the Gulf countries," the spokesperson stressed.
"At the moment, we have an informal ceasefire, the maintenance of which is not established," added the same sources. "We need to be sure that we have the Iranian commitment not to shoot at passing ships and the commitment that the US will not block any ship entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz."
"Tolls will not be accepted," was the starting point of the meeting of the "volunteers" convened by Macron, who warned about "the serious global economic consequences of the conflict" and demanded the return of the Strait of Hormuz to a pre-war situation.
Each country will commit to providing its own military resources to ensure security and freedom of navigation once hostilities cease. The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its fleet will provide the bulk of the mission. Berlin, on the other hand, has committed to contribute to "mine clearance and long-distance maritime reconnaissance."
"France and its partners remain committed to defending their interests and achieving a solid solution to the conflict through diplomatic channels that guarantee peace and security for all in the region," concluded the Élysée spokesperson, confirming that the need to preserve the ceasefire in Lebanon will also be on the agenda.