Modi and Macron push to reopen Strait of Hormuz ahead of Paris talks
Modi and Macron push to reopen Strait of Hormuz ahead of Paris talks
Modi and Macron discuss reviving navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as Paris gears up for a virtual conference to ease West Asia tensions.
Modi and Macron spoke ahead of a virtual Paris-hosted conference aimed at restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint central to global shipping. The discussion comes as West Asia tensions rise after Iran closed the strait following a sequence of military strikes that began the current crisis in late February. Macron pressed for an unconditional reopening of the strait, arguing the waterway should be opened as soon as possible and without tolls, and said the Paris conference would bring together non-belligerent countries to contribute to a multilateral, defensive mission to safeguard international shipping when security conditions allow.
Details emerging from the plan indicate Britain and France intend to oversee a coordinated, independent multinational effort, while discussions aim to set the terms of a broader effort to reopen the waterway once hostilities ease. In New Delhi, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented the country at a virtual meeting on April 2 chaired by British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper to discuss reopening the strait.
Modi later reiterated that military conflict cannot resolve the crises in West Asia or Ukraine and urged dialogue as the only viable path to lasting peace. He and other leaders have stressed diplomacy rather than military escalation as the way forward, as NATO members have said they will not be dragged into the conflict by supporting blockades.
