Macron and Starmer will co-host a global summit Friday.

Leaders push for a multilateral plan

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will convene a videoconference with more than 40 countries on Friday to map out steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly a fifth of global oil typically moves, officials said.

Macron framed the proposed operation as defensive. In a post on X, he said the mission would be “strictly defensive,” limited to non‑belligerent countries and only deployed “when security conditions allow.”

Starmer has cast the closure of the strait as an urgent global problem. “The unconditional and immediate reopening of the Strait is a global responsibility, and we need to act to get global energy and trade flowing freely again,” he said ahead of the meeting.

Military planning — but not a U.S. Effort

French and British officials have started military planning for the 'Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative,' but they stress the plan is still being drawn up and would only move forward after a lasting ceasefire.

French military spokesman Col. Guillaume Vernet told reporters the mission is still “in construction.” The Elysée Palace said participating states will contribute “each according to its capabilities,” listing options such as intelligence sharing, mine clearance, maritime escorts and communication procedures with coastal states.

Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow in sea power at the Royal United Services Institute, said mine‑clearing and maritime warning systems are more likely immediate roles for a coalition than broad escort missions by warships. He argued a practical first step would be clearing hazards and giving ship operators clear information on risks.

The United States is not taking part in the France-UK planning. President Donald Trump has announced a separate American blockade of Iranian ports, and U.S. Central Command said it would start enforcing that blockade at 10 a.m. on Monday against ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.

Why the strait matters now

The shutdown of the strait has hit global markets. Since the war began on Feb. 28 and Iran effectively closed the channel, ships have been rerouted, insurance rates have jumped and energy prices have spiked — moves officials say are adding to global economic pain.

Starmer and Macron have sought to rally countries that didn't join the conflict but are suffering the fallout. Starmer told reporters the aim is to combine diplomatic pressure to secure a durable ceasefire with planning to reassure commercial shipping once conditions stabilise.

Mastheads

Macron and Starmer compared the effort to earlier “coalitions of the willing” created to provide security in other crises, but stressed any operation would be deployed only when a ceasefire makes it safe to do so. A French official listed tasks that could be needed before ships return to normal transit — intelligence, mine clearance, military escorts and communication channels with coastal authorities.

Diplomatic tensions and competing initiatives

The summit comes amid a field of competing approaches. The United States has announced a unilateral blockade, while Paris and London are seeking a broader, multinational plan framed as non‑belligerent and defensive. This differing approaches have raised diplomatic friction over who should lead efforts to restore freedom of navigation.

Starmer argued Britain wouldn't take part in enforcing a U.S. Maritime blockade and instead aims to mobilise partners to protect shipping without joining combat operations. He said regional partners view the crisis with urgency, and that the current ceasefire remains fragile.

Those tactical differences mirror bigger geopolitical splits: some countries want direct military pressure on Iran, while others push for diplomacy and regional talks. France and Britain are betting a multilateral, capability‑based plan can deliver practical protections while avoiding escalation.

Economic ripple effects and global trade

Analysts and officials warn the economic consequences could be broad. The strait is a key artery for energy flows. When transit slows or halts, oil supply tightens, insurance and shipping costs rise, and energy prices climb — effects that ripple into consumer goods and transportation costs worldwide.

Starmer has linked the moves directly to price pressures at home, saying reopening the strait is “vital to ease cost of living pressures.” Macron and other European leaders have echoed that reopening the waterway is about restarting global trade as much as about security.

Maritime industry groups have similarly emphasised practical measures: clear signalling to ship operators, better maritime domain awareness, and mine‑clearance capacity to restore safe routes. Those are the options officials say could be delivered by a coalition tailored to available capabilities.

What this means for Canada

None of the supplied briefings list Canada among organisers, and I found no Canadian quotes in the documents released before the summit — but the sources do not publish a full participant list, so Canadian participation cannot be ruled out from these reports alone. Still, the global role of the Strait of Hormuz means disruptions can reach Canadian households and businesses through international markets.

About a fifth of the world’s oil normally transits the strait. When that flow is interrupted, global crude supplies tighten and benchmark prices can rise, increasing costs for refiners and consumers worldwide. That can add to inflationary pressures already affecting households and firms in countries that import energy, Canada among them.

Beyond fuel prices, higher shipping costs and longer transit times affect supply chains. Canadian exporters and importers that rely on global shipping routes could face higher freight bills or delays. Pension funds and institutional investors with exposure to energy markets may also see increased volatility in holdings tied to oil and shipping sectors.

How directly Canada is affected will depend on the duration of disruption and how markets adjust — whether alternative supply routes compensate, whether insurance and freight premiums stabilize, and whether a ceasefire allows the coalition to act without escalating hostilities.

Next steps and uncertainties

Friday’s videoconference will flesh out what participating states can realistically offer, from technical support like mine clearance to patrol or escort roles if a ceasefire takes hold. Officials say the coalition is designed to be flexible: contributions will match national capabilities and the security situation on the ground.

But much depends on diplomacy to secure a durable end to hostilities that closed the strait in the first place. If war continues or if unilateral blockades intensify, creating safe, open transit will be harder and more dangerous.

For now, the summit aims to move from statements to a coordinated plan that can be deployed when conditions permit — an effort Macron described as limited, defensive and conditional, and Starmer said is focused on getting global energy and trade moving again.

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CENTCOM said it will enforce a blockade of Iranian ports, effective at 10 a.m. Monday.

This article was created with AI assistance.