From the Wall Street Journal, April 14:
U.K. and French plan aims to give shipping companies confidence to use the strait after the fighting ends
LONDON—European countries are putting together a plan for a broad coalition of countries to help free up shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, including sending mine-clearing and other military vessels. But the plan would only come after the war and may exclude one country in particular: the U.S.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday the plan is for an international defensive mission that doesn’t include the “belligerent” parties, meaning the U.S., Israel and Iran. European diplomats familiar with the plan say European ships wouldn’t be under American command.
The goal of the European plan is to give shipping companies confidence to use the strait after the fighting has ended, which officials say could be some time away.
The European plan is likely to include Germany, which had until now been publicly reluctant to even contemplate any military involvement, according to a senior German official. Germany, which has faced high political and legal hurdles to take part in overseas military ventures since World War II, could spell out its commitment as early as Thursday, according to the official.
Berlin’s involvement means the mission could be more substantial than previously expected. Germany has more fiscal firepower than the U.K. and France and some key military assets needed for this specific mission.
This Friday, Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host an online meeting of several dozen countries to discuss how best to police Hormuz once hostilities end. Starmer will attend the Paris event in person, while most other countries will join via videoconference. The U.S. won’t attend, French and British officials said. China and India were invited, but it’s unclear if they will attend, a French official said....
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