French President Emmanuel Macron announced during a visit to Cyprus that France and its allies are preparing a mission described as “strictly defensive, strictly supportive” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where dozens of ships have been stranded since the outbreak of conflict in the region.
Speaking during a one-day visit to the eastern Mediterranean island – the EU member state closest to the Middle East – Macron said the mission will commence “as soon as possible once the most intensive phase of the conflict has concluded.”
The Greek Minister of Maritime Transport has described the situation in the strait as “alarming,” noting that many oil tankers remain blocked along this key waterway following recent U.S. and Israeli air strikes against Iran. Approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz every day, highlighting its critical importance for global energy markets, The Guardian reports.
Macron emphasized the mission’s strategic importance:
“It is essential not only for international trade, but also for the flow of gas and oil, which must be able to move freely again from this region.”
The French leader also pledged that the European Union will take all necessary measures to support Cyprus, where several EU countries have deployed warships and fighter jets following a drone attack on a British base on the island.
