Hormuz tensions rise: UK, France plan mission, Trump rejects NATO help
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
France and the UK are ready to deploy a military mission in the Strait of Hormuz with the aim of "protecting freedom of navigation." Meanwhile, the US president told NATO allies to "stay away," according to Sky News.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the defence mission will focus on mine clearance and protecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
"The whole world needs to see a solution here," he repeated the words of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Starmer added that restoring the functioning of this waterway should be based on "both a lasting and a workable proposal."
"We need to act to get global energy and trade flowing freely again, to bring down prices for working people. Our citizens need to see a return to peace and stability, and we will play our full part," the British prime minister stressed.
Trump says, 'Stay away'
Despite Starmer and Macron’s statements about a naval mission to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump rejected any offers of assistance from NATO allies.
"Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I told them to stay away, unless they just want to load up their ships with oil," the US president said.
Trump said NATO allies "were useless" when they were needed and called them a "paper tiger."
Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz
At the beginning of the war between the US and Israel against Iran, Tehran blocked the Strait of Hormuz. This triggered a large-scale global oil crisis, causing fuel prices to rise.
US President Donald Trump even called on NATO allies to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, but they refused, which sparked outrage from the American leader and subsequent statements about withdrawing from NATO.
After failed negotiations, Trump announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, saying that US ships would intercept all vessels that paid Iran a transit fee.
On April 15, Trump said he was permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. Today, April 17, Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels during the ceasefire in Lebanon.
