French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will host a diplomatic summit with the UK in Paris on Friday to tackle the Strait of Hormuz crisis — and it will not include Trump
US President Trump faces the prospect of being marginalised by a frustrated Europe tomorrow over his “belligerent” stance on Iran.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will host a diplomatic summit with the UK in Paris on Friday to address the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Notably, Trump will not be invited to the summit. Macron took to X to call for the strait to be reopened ‘as soon as possible.’
Following talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Macron confirmed the gathering would bring together ‘non-belligerent countries ready to contribute, alongside us, to a multilateral and purely defensive mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the strait when security conditions allow.’
The summit comes as Trump finds himself increasingly frozen out by several European nations from post-war Middle East negotiations.
White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said: “The United States doesn’t need help from any other country – the blockade is working perfectly, implemented by the greatest Navy in the world, while Iran’s navy is at the bottom of the ocean.”
Yet Trump himself had previously declared the strait ‘permanently open’ following discussions with Xi Jinping, during which it was suggested the Chinese leader had agreed to stop arming Iran.
The Wall Street Journal reports that French diplomats believe Trump’s participation in any proposals would obstruct diplomatic progress. Nevertheless, British officials have voiced concerns that excluding the US could further antagonise Trump and create additional difficulties.
Keir Starmer has made his intention clear to maintain Britain’s distance from the growing tensions between the two countries. He told the BBC: “We’re not supporting the blockade.
“My decision has been very clearly that whatever the pressure, and there’s been some considerable pressure, we’re not getting dragged into the war.”
The coalition’s main aim is to ensure that shipping companies feel confident navigating the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities have ceased.
To achieve this, the plan includes rescue operations for stranded vessels, de-mining efforts to remove Iranian mines, and the creation of a programme for military personnel.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot indicated on Tuesday that this depends on regional stability.
Barrot said: “The mission we are referring to could only be deployed once calm has been restored and hostilities have ceased.”
Germany is also widely anticipated to participate in the operation.
Throughout the conflict, Trump has been vocal in criticising NATO allies for doing ‘nothing’ to support the US in safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz, warning that his country might pull out of the alliance.
Writing on his social media platform last week, Trump said: ‘None of these people, including our own, very disappointing, NATO, understood anything unless they have pressure placed upon them!!!’
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