France Convenes 35-Nation Military Videoconference Led by Top Armed Forces Chief

Gen. Fabien Mandon, France's armed forces chief, convened a videoconference Thursday with military counterparts from roughly 35 countries, assembling one of the broadest multilateral defense coalitions yet formed around a single strategic objective: reopening the Strait of Hormuz once the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran ends.

The videoconference of defense staff chiefs focused on how to reopen shipping "once the intensity of hostilities has sufficiently decreased," and could entail a "strictly defensive" mission to escort commercial vessels and restore freedom of navigation.

Separately, Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, Chief of Staff for the French Navy, held talks with 12 naval counterparts, including officials from Britain, Germany, Italy, India, and Japan. "We are exchanging views on issues related to freedom of navigation and maritime security, as the sea is a vital artery for our global economy and regional stability," Vaujour wrote on X.

The diplomatic push follows heightened tensions after Iran effectively restricted access to the strait in response to joint strikes by the United States and Israel in late February, triggering a surge in global oil and gas prices. The Strait of Hormuz carries about a fifth of global oil supplies and underpins Gulf economies.

A defence official said it was expected that any first phase would focus on mine-hunting, followed by a second phase to protect tankers crossing the area. Security concerns in the waterway include allegations that mines have been deployed, a development expected to feature prominently in upcoming discussions.

France has already deployed its aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean, as well as two helicopter carriers and eight warships to the Middle East, in preparation for possible future missions.

President Emmanuel Macron, who has suggested having a U.N. framework for any action in the strait, has said international efforts could only happen once hostilities calm, insurance and shipping firms are consulted, and with Iran's consent.

Britain has also said it is working with allies on a "viable" plan to reopen the strait, a task Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described as difficult without de-escalation in the Middle East. There are also plans for a larger summit, which the UK may host in either Portsmouth or London, to finalize operational details and strengthen the coalition's framework.

Mandon's outreach comes days after he publicly criticized Washington's conduct in the conflict. "We were surprised by an American ally, who remains an ally, but who is becoming increasingly unpredictable and doesn't even bother to inform us when they decide to launch military operations," Mandon told a security and defence forum in Paris. France is now positioning itself as the organizing force for a post-hostilities maritime order, regardless of how Washington's campaign concludes.