France’s top diplomat on Friday said a new US-led coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would complement and not compete with a similar mission spearheaded by France and Britain.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaking in Abu Dhabi following a regional tour, said he briefed Gulf allies on the UK-France initiative which was now at an “advanced” stage.
On Thursday, a US official confirmed to AFP that Washington was launching an international coalition dubbed the “Maritime Freedom Construct” to restart shipping in the vital route.
The strait, which normally carries one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, has been effectively blockaded by Iran over the Middle East war, sending prices soaring and choking trade networks.
The UK and France have led talks on a separate maritime effort, recently holding a meeting with more than 50 countries.
The US mission is “not of the same nature as the one we established… it comes as a sort of complement”, Barrot…
