France's top diplomat clarified on Friday that the newly announced US-led coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is not a competitor to the similar mission spearheaded by France and Britain, but rather a complementary effort. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot made these remarks in Abu Dhabi following a regional tour that included visits to Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Advanced Planning for UK-France Mission
Barrot stated that he briefed Gulf allies on the UK-France initiative, which is now at an "advanced" stage. The planning has been finalized, and he presented the concept to key regional partners. The UK and France have been leading talks on a separate maritime effort, recently convening a meeting with over 50 countries.
US Announces Maritime Freedom Construct
On Thursday, a US official confirmed to AFP that Washington is launching an international coalition called the "Maritime Freedom Construct" to restart shipping in the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, which normally handles one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, has been effectively blockaded by Iran amid the Middle East war, causing prices to soar and disrupting global trade networks.
The US mission is "not of the same nature as the one we established... it comes as a sort of complement," Barrot said. "It is not in competition with the initiative we have launched and on which we are focused."
Diplomatic Efforts and Reactions
The Wall Street Journal reported that a diplomatic cable called on US embassies to press foreign governments to join the US-led effort. When asked whether France would participate in Washington's initiative, Barrot declined to comment at this stage. US President Donald Trump has criticized allies for their reluctance to engage in the US-Israeli war on Iran and has urged oil-dependent nations to take responsibility for reopening the strait.
Iran has vowed not to reopen the waterway as long as the United States blockades its ports. The closure has had a widespread impact on the global economy, with oil prices hitting a four-year high this week.
