France and allies plan defensive naval mission for Strait of Hormuz

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and allied countries are preparing a naval mission he described as 'purely defensive.' The stated goal of the mission is to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments.

Macron indicated the mission would involve escorting commercial ships, but suggested it would begin once the current conflict in the region has calmed down. The announcement frames the operation as a multinational effort focused on securing maritime traffic.