The summit of the “Willing” in Paris ends with an unprecedented sign of unity. Despite Tehran’s recent overtures, the leaders of France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom have drawn an insurmountable line: the Strait of Hormuz must once again become a free, safe route free from any logic of war.
Macron’s position: “From announcements to facts”
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the signals coming from Iran, but warned that diplomacy is not enough. To consolidate these results in the long term, Macron confirmed the project of a military security mission led by the coalition. “This mission is legitimate because it will make it possible to consolidate the announcements in the short term and, above all, it will give them the possibility of resisting in the long term”, explained the owner of the Elysée. Macron was keen to clarify a fundamental point: the operation will be distinct from the belligerents, acting as a neutral guarantee force for international law.
The front of the leaders: Meloni, Starmer and Merz
Alongside Macron, the leaders of the main European powers reiterated the urgency of coordinated action: for Giorgia Meloni, freedom of navigation in Hormuz is a “central issue” not only as a principle of law, but due to its enormous economic weight. “World supply chains depend on this step”, he recalled, underlining the Italian national interest in the stability of the routes.
The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, highlighted the success of the meeting, which brought together 49 countries. The goal is clear: to keep the strait fully open to “keep prices low for all and avoid further damage” to the global economy.
The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, expressed Berlin’s willingness to do its part, while tying the military intervention to two key steps: a UN Security Council resolution and the approval of the German Parliament (Bundestag), as required by the Constitution.
Towards a UN resolution
The road is traced. The “Willing” will now work intensively on the diplomatic level to obtain the UN mandate. The objective is not only to temporarily reopen the passage, but to establish a defense that discourages future attempts to “privatize” or block the Strait. The message coming from Paris is unequivocal: Europe and its allies are ready to protect, even militarily, the beating heart of global energy trade.