French President Emmanuel Macron has refused any immediate action in the Strait of Hormuz, but said France could help escort ships through the waterway once the situation was “calmer”.
At the start of a defence council meeting in Paris, Macron said it was out of the question for France to take part in operations to open or liberate the strait, citing the ongoing conflict in the region.
“France did not choose this war. We are not taking part in it. We have a purely defensive position. Our objectives are clear: to protect our nationals, our diplomatic and military sites, and our interests in the region,” Macron said.
However, Macron hasn’t closed the door to a possible role at a later stage once the situation is stabilised.
France would be ready, “once the situation is calmer, that is to say once the heart of the bombardments has ceased”, to join an international effort to secure maritime traffic, he said.
“We are ready, with other nations, to take responsibility for an escort system,” Macron said.
French Finance Minister, Roland Lescure, backed up Macron’s comments in an interview with CNBC.
“We are willing to do something to free the Strait of Hormuz, provided that this is not a war situation anymore. Nobody wants to go across the Strait of Hormuz if there’s a risk of missiles or drones going on your head,” he said.
France is one of the countries, alongside the U.K. and Germany, that U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised for failing to assist the U.S. in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait has been closed since 28 February after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
Around 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through the strait, and its closure has driven oil prices to almost US$100 per barrel.
European countries have been reluctant to get involved in the war, as it was a conflict of choice rather than necessity, and one with no clear objective or endpoint.
