Europe is in no hurry to join the U.S. naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz
The United Kingdom and France are in no hurry to move forward with the practical implementation of an international maritime mission in the Strait of Hormuz, which the United States is promoting to escort commercial vessels. Analysts interviewed by Al Jazeera English attribute the delay to European governments’ caution about being drawn into an unpredictable conflict with Iran—a conflict they neither initiated nor supported.
Washington first proposed forming an international coalition to protect shipping in the strait in March. U.S. President Donald Trump called on allies, as well as China, to send military ships. Most countries either declined or remained undecided at the time, while London and Paris did not rule out participation.
In mid-April, then-British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans for Britain and France to lead an international mission to protect shipping. According to him, it was to be strictly peaceful and defensive. The following month, the British Ministry of Defense announced its intention to provide drones, fighter jets, and a warship for the mission once conditions allowed.
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According to a European diplomatic source cited by Al Jazeera English, the Franco-British initiative was followed by a technical meeting attended by representatives from more than 30 countries. The British Ministry of Defense stated that Defense Minister Wes Streeting is looking forward to further negotiations on the planning and coordination of the future multinational mission. The ministry added that operational activities will depend on the situation on the ground and a stable political agreement.
H. A. Gellier, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defense Studies and the Center for American Progress, believes that London and Paris are unlikely to lead the operation without the active support of key Gulf states. In his view, any European presence would be limited, defensive, and focused on commercial shipping rather than a broader security operation.
The Strait of Hormuz is a point of contention between the U.S. and Iran in negotiations to end the conflict. About one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies typically pass through it. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Garibabadi stated that an agreement with Oman on a new protocol for managing vessel traffic is nearing completion. According to him, the new route could remain in effect for two to four months: a significant portion of it will pass through Iranian territorial waters, while other sections will pass through Omani waters.
