France holds videocall with 35 countries on reopening Strait of Hormuz

The French government officials on Thursday held video calls in the wake of a multinational effort to bring the nations on board on restoring the maritime traffic channelled through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Defence Ministry announced on Thursday did not specify which nations participated but emphasised that the initiative is purely defensive and separate from ongoing military operations in the region.

“This initiative, independent of current military actions, is strictly defensive in nature”.

The statement said, “Its purpose is to organise the resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities have ceased.”

The videoconference underscores France’s push to play a central role in ensuring the security of one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, vital for global energy supplies.

Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter?

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

It handles 20–21 million barrels of oil per day, about 20–25 per cent of global seaborne oil trade, from major exporters like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, and Iran.

The strait also carries significant LNG shipments from Qatar and other Gulf states. Any disruption can quickly impact global oil prices, affecting key importers like China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Beyond energy, it is crucial for regional trade, supporting trillions of dollars in global commerce each year.

Meanwhile, Turkish officials have been engaged in high-level talks to ensure the stability of the Middle East, amidst growing concerns of a wider regional conflagration.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has spearheaded this diplomatic “shuttle diplomacy,” travelling to Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Doha to coordinate a de-escalation strategy.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also shown the government’s commitment to push for a peace deal between the US and Iran.

While the efforts across the globe are underway, Iran puts its own conditions, saying that if they are filled only then will their country agree to negotiate. The far-and-beyond demands that the Iranian state has backed also include the losses it has suffered amid the US-Israel joint strikes in Iran, killing multiple key officers of the country.