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French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will deploy naval forces and support an international escort mission to protect commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the Strait of Hormuz is a narrow but critical maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, lying directly along Iran’s southern coastline and only a few dozen miles from Iranian territory at its narrowest point. Roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply (along with a major share of global liquefied natural gas exports) normally passes through the strait, making it one of the most important energy chokepoints on the planet. Amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, commercial shipping through the waterway has stopped as tanker operators avoid the area following attacks and threats against vessels. The disruption has pushed global oil prices higher, with Iranian officials warning they could attack ships transiting the strait.

What’s going on now: While speaking in Cyprus, President Macron said France and its partners are preparing what he described as a “purely defensive” naval mission aimed at escorting container ships and oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz once the most intense phase of the fighting subsides. Macron said the goal is to gradually reopen the strategic shipping lane by providing armed naval escorts to commercial vessels, ensuring freedom of navigation and helping stabilize global energy flows after weeks of disruption.

France has already begun positioning significant military assets in the region to support the effort. The French carrier strike group centered on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) has been ordered toward the Eastern Mediterranean along with escort ships including the air-defense frigate Chevalier Paul (D621) and other support vessels. Additional French warships, including the frigate Languedoc (D653), have also been dispatched, and Paris has indicated it could deploy up to eight warships and two helicopter carriers across the broader region to reinforce maritime security operations.

The escort effort would be coordinated with European and international partners. Other countries have already increased their presence nearby, including Greece, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Pakistan, with several naval deployments and air defense assets positioned around the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus to respond to potential threats.

This all comes as the United States has also indicated it may take part in escorting ships through the strait. The Trump administration has indicated that the US Navy could soon begin convoy-style protection for commercial vessels once conditions allow, though American forces are not currently conducting escorts. The US has also announced it will provide war-risk insurance support for oil tankers, amid insurance costs increasing tenfold.