Dozens of nations are gathering for plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. isn’t one of them

Nearly 30 nations are taking part in the Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes British Prime Minister Keir Starmer prior to an international summit to push forward efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France, Friday, April 17, 2026. [Photo: Michel Euler/AP Photo]

The leaders of France and the U.K. gathered dozens of countries — but not the United States — on Friday to push forward plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route choked off by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.The Paris meeting is part of attempts by sidelined nations to ease the impact of a conflict they didn’t start and haven’t joined, but that has sent the global economy reeling. After the war started on Feb. 28, Iran effectively shut the narrow strait though which a fifth of the world’s oil usually passes.The U.S. is not part of the planning for what has been branded the Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative. In a post on X ahead of Friday’s conference, French President Emmanuel Macron said the mission to provide security for shipping through the strait would be “strictly defensive,” limited to non-belligerent countries and deployed “when security conditions allow.”British Prime Minister Keir........

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