France Opens Options for Escort in the Strait of Hormuz with Other Countries

JAKARTA - French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin said that planning was underway on a French initiative involving about 20 countries to discuss the possibility of escorting ships when crossing the Strait of Hormuz if necessary.

"There is an ongoing planning process initiated by France, involving about 20 countries, to assess how ships can cross the strait with escort if necessary," Catherine Vautrin told broadcaster LCI, Friday, April 10, reported by ANTARA from Anadolu.

He emphasized that the main priority remained to ensure freedom of navigation through diplomatic coordination with all relevant stakeholders, including shipping companies and insurance companies.

Vautrin said the initiative was developed with partner countries as part of a broader effort to secure shipping lanes.

He added that the Strait of Hormuz remains a crucial global point that handles about 20 percent of the world's trade flows.

The minister also highlighted wider regional tensions, calling the current ceasefire "very fragile" and warning of the need for reinforcement to achieve sustainable peace.

He also said the situation in Lebanon was still very worrying and expressed support for the UN peacekeeping forces deployed in the country, including the French forces in the UNIFIL mission.

Regional tensions have escalated since the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28, which killed more than 3,000 people, including then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets as a form of self-defense. Iran has also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (7/4) announced a two-week ceasefire, saying Iran had submitted a 10-point proposal that "can be implemented", while negotiations are expected to determine whether a long-term agreement can be reached.