The Europeans' plan for the Strait of Hormuz after the war. The three phases and the chapter in which the US is outclassed
European countries are drawing up a plan for an international defensive mission to help secure the Strait of Hormuz after the end of the war between the US, Israel, on the one hand, and Iran, on the other, according to The Wall Street Journal.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that there would be no “belligerents” involved in the broad international coalition, meaning the mission excludes the United States, Israel and Iran.
European diplomats familiar with the situation have also said that European ships will not operate under American command.
The WSJ writes that it is a three-phase operation: establishing the logistics for freeing the hundreds of stranded ships, conducting a massive demining effort using Europe's fleet of more than 150 minesweepers, and deploying frigates and destroyers for military escort, modeled after Operation Aspides in the Red Sea.
According to the publication, Europe has demining capabilities that far exceed those of the United States, which has decommissioned much of its fleet.
The initiative gained momentum with the likely involvement of Germany, whose participation could be announced as early as Thursday.
Discussion organized by leaders from Paris and London
On Friday, Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host a video meeting with several dozen countries to discuss strait surveillance – the US will not be part of the discussion.
“The mission we are referring to can only be carried out after the restoration of calm and the cessation of hostilities,” emphasized the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, who specified that the actions will be coordinated with Iran and Oman, the countries that are located to the north and south of the strait, respectively.
Iranian ports are currently under a blockade by the US military, which claims that no ships were able to get through in the first 24 hours of the operation by more than 10,000 US troops (pilots, marines and sailors), more than a dozen warships and dozens of fighter jets.
