Evian, France, June 17 (ANI): A new chapter in global maritime stability began on Wednesday as G7 leaders officially endorsed a multinational defensive coalition led by France and the United Kingdom, tasked with safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz following a peace deal between the United States and Iran.
In a formal declaration issued during the G7 Summit, leaders reaffirmed that “the right of unimpeded and duty-free transit passage is the cornerstone of international trade.”
The Strait of Hormuz, which facilitates a significant portion of the world’s daily oil shipments, has been the epicenter of geopolitical volatility in West Asia.
To ensure the waterway remains open and secure, the G7 has thrown its weight behind the France-UK-led initiative. The coalition aims to prioritize the protection of merchant vessels, restore confidence among commercial shipping operators and insurers, and support the systematic verification and removal of mines to ensure the waterway is fully cleared for traffic.
“We reaffirm that the right of unimpeded and duty-free transit passage is the cornerstone of international trade. We agreed that the multinational and independent defense initiative led by France and the United Kingdom can play an important role in facilitating the resumption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz by protecting merchant ships, reassuring commercial shipping operators, and supporting verification of the removal of all mines,” the declaration stated.
The development comes after US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz had “already partially opened” and would be “completely opened” by Friday as part of the agreement reached with Iran following recent hostilities in the region.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, Trump expressed optimism over the implementation of the deal and the restoration of maritime movement through the strategically significant waterway.
“I am very happy to say the deal’s all signed and the strait is already partially opened. They are doing a little hunt for a couple of mines they’ve already found. But essentially, ships are starting to go out now. On Friday, it will be completely open. We got along very well with Iran,” Trump said.
Earlier, Trump said that ships, including several carrying oil, had started moving through the Strait of Hormuz following his announcement of the completion of the Iran-US peace deal aimed at ending hostilities in the region.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump suggested that maritime traffic through the strategically important waterway had resumed and described the designated shipping route as secure.
“Ships are starting to move, many loaded up with oil, out of the Strait of Hormuz. They are going along the Southern ‘Highway,’ which is totally safe, secure, and pristine. There are other areas of travel, also,” Trump wrote.
The comments came after Trump announced on Sunday that the deal with Iran was “complete” while also ending the US naval blockade on the strategically critical waterway.
“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all! I hereby fully authorize the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the world, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” Trump said in a separate post on Truth Social.
However, Trump also stated in another post that the strategic waterway would be fully reopened following the signing of the agreement on Friday in Geneva, noting that the “great deal” was aimed at bringing “peace and security” to the entire region. (ANI)
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