Macron proposes bringing to the UN the military mission that guarantees navigation in Hormuz

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has proposed bringing to the United Nations the initiative of an international military mission that guarantees navigation in the Hormuz Pass, so that the plan of the United Kingdom and France has a framework and a mandate supported by the international community, although Paris insists that any step will be taken once hostilities cease.

In an interview with several French media in the context of his trip to Kenya, Macron proposed “launching an initiative in the United Nations” for a “framework” with a view to agreeing on a “totally neutral and peaceful” mission.

“We must achieve the unconditional and toll-free reopening of Hormuz, dismantling all blockades and truly maintaining this dialogue of demands with respect to Iran,” he said, while criticizing the “escalation in statements” by Washington and Tehran.

These statements come in parallel to the telematic summit of Defense Ministers of the coalition of 40 countries that are working to establish the military deployment in Hormuz to escort merchant ships and guarantee free navigation when the war ends.

After the meeting, the French Defense Minister, Catherine Vautrin, stated that there are “numerous” new contributions planned for the operation, although she has avoided detailing them. “Important support from our partners for the main principles of the initiative: defensive operation, in accordance with international law and coordinated with the interested parties,” he explained about the result of the meeting.

On France’s side, it confirmed that the aircraft carrier ‘Charles de Gaulle’ and its air-naval group are already deployed in the region, pointing to its participation in the eventual mission. In any case, in statements to the LCI network, he reiterated that the mission is not “in any case trying to threaten Iran” and emphasized that “there will be no action in the strait as long as there is no de-escalation.”

POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ITALY AND AUSTRALIA

At the moment, few countries have confirmed their contribution to the mission led by Paris and London, the Italian Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, has insisted that the shared objective remains that “as quickly as possible” and through coordinated action we return to the “conditions of stability and normality in maritime navigation in the Hormuz area.”

His cabinet colleague, the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, has stressed before Parliament “the government’s commitment to peace”, pointing out that Italy is open to participating in the international coalition “only after the definitive cessation of hostilities.”

For its part, Australia has announced that it will join a “strictly defensive” mission led by France and the United Kingdom, after Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles indicated that the country “is willing to support an independent and strictly defensive multinational military mission.”

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, which leads the initiative, has already indicated that it will send drones, combat aircraft and the destroyer ‘HMS Dragon’, as well as anti-mine equipment, to the mission, after deploying this advanced warship, considered the backbone of the British Royal Navy, in the Middle East in recent days.