The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, announced this Monday (9) that his country and allies are preparing an international mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route for global oil transport that was practically blocked by the war in the Middle East.
According to Macron, the operation will be “purely defensive” and will aim to escort commercial ships, including oil tankers and cargo ships, to allow the gradual resumption of maritime traffic in the region. 
“We are in the process of establishing a purely defensive, purely escort mission, which must be prepared together with European and non-European states,” said the Frenchman after meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Cyprus.
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The strait connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and accounts for around 20% of global oil trade, making it a critical point for global energy supplies.
The initiative takes place amid the escalation of the war that began after attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran. The conflict provoked Iranian retaliatory attacks and led to the closure of important sea routes for transporting energy.
The blockage of the strait has already provoked strong volatility in the oil market and concerns about global inflation and disruptions in international trade.
European military presence
As part of the response, France announced the deployment of additional naval forces to the region. The country intends to deploy around a dozen warships, including a group of aircraft carriers, to reinforce maritime security in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the waters near the Strait of Hormuz. 
Macron also indicated that Paris intends to expand its participation in the European naval mission Aspides, which protects vessels against attacks by groups allied with Iran in the Red Sea. 
The proposed naval escort for commercial ships is expected to involve European partners and possibly countries outside the European Union.
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According to Macron, the objective is to reestablish freedom of navigation and guarantee the flow of international trade on one of the most important energy routes in the world.
(with Reuters and Le Monde)
