France and Germany Split on Europe’s Role in Securing Hormuz

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(Bloomberg) — Europeans are diverging over how to conduct a mission to secure sea lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, as French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer convene a meeting of leaders later Friday to discuss the issue.

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The main split between Germany and France centers over whether the US would participate in the mission, according to people familiar with their positions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants the US to be involved while France insists only “non-belligerent” countries would join.

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Any involvement by the countries would only take place once peace is secured in Iran. 

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Washington wasn’t invited to Friday’s high-level meeting in Paris that will feature Macron, Merz, Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. Other leaders will join via video conference to discuss how each country could contribute to the mission. 

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Ahead of the conference, Merz said there were differences among participants about the US role in any post-war mission: “We will discuss this further and, if necessary, reach a decision.”

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The Elysee laid out three priorities: de-mining the strait; making sure vessels aren’t subject to a toll to sail through the passage; and protecting international rules of free navigation, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. 

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The differing views over the role that the US would play highlights how Europeans are struggling to adopt a common stance after President Donald Trump criticized them over what he called their refusal to help the US confront Iran. Trump has also proposed imposing US tolls on vessels in the strait, which France opposes.

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Asked about Merz’s position, a French official confirmed that the US and Iran were not joining Friday’s conference. Macron is speaking to Trump regularly and there has been no objection from the US so far. The French president also made this point to Iran’s president, the official said.

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A ceasefire was agreed on April 8 but remains shaky as Washington imposed a blockade in the strait, which is still shuttered. Trump claimed on Thursday that Iran has made key concessions in negotiations with the US and that a deal to end the war — which has left thousands dead and rattled energy markets — could be announced “fairly soon.”

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France has already deployed frigates, an aircraft carrier, aircraft and air defense systems in the region. Germany could offer minesweepers or reconnaissance vessels, but is unlikely to deploy frigates as they are being used to secure NATO’s eastern and northern flanks, according to senior government officials. 

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Macron’s office said Chinese officials may join Friday’s meeting, among other Asian and Latin American officials, as long as they’re able and willing to contribute, in a format reminiscent of the “coalition of willing” that regularly meets to draft military plans for a post-ceasefire mission in Ukraine.

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The Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative would be “strictly defensive in nature,” according to a UK statement, and it would be coupled with insurance industry support and back efforts to clear mines in the strait.

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Merz told reporters in Berlin on Thursday that prerequisites for any German contribution include an international mandate, preferably from the United Nations, a resolution by the federal government, and a mandate from parliament. “We are still a long way from that overall,” Merz added.

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