14 April,2026 08:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shipping security at centre of Paris conference. Representational Image
Amid tensions in West Asia, France and the United Kingdom are set to host a major international conference this week to address growing concerns over shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy routes, reported ANI.
The meeting aims to bring together more than 40 countries to work on a plan to restore safe and free navigation in the region despite US-Iran tensions on the control over route.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the conference will be held in Paris on Friday via video link. The focus will be on creating a "multilateral and purely defensive mission" involving countries that are not part of the conflict.
He said the initiative is aimed at "restoring freedom of navigation in the strait when security conditions permit."
Similarly, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that over 40 nations have already been brought together to work on a coordinated plan.
"The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is deeply damaging⦠Getting global shipping moving is vital," he said, highlighting the impact on global costs and supply chains.
The move comes after recent peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad failed to reach a breakthrough, despite long negotiations.
Macron said he has spoken with both Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, urging all sides to return to dialogue and avoid further escalation. He stressed the need to respect the ceasefire, including in Lebanon and called for the Strait to be reopened.
"It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without controls or tolls, as soon as possible. Under these conditions, negotiations should be able to resume quickly, with the support of the main stakeholders", he added, reported the news agency.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major flashpoint since US-Israeli strikes against Iran began earlier this year. The route is a key global energy corridor, with nearly one-fifth of the world's oil passing through it before the conflict.
Disruptions in the region have already pushed up global oil prices and raised concerns about supply chains. The proposed France-UK initiative now seeks to ease tensions and ensure the safe movement of international shipping once conditions improve.
(With ANI Inputs)
