As Britain And France Try Prying Hormuz Open With Their Own Crowbars, Uncle Sam Forms New Coalition

(Photo by FAZRY ISMAIL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. has invited all NATO allies to join a Washington-led maritime security initiative in the Strait of Hormuz as Britain and France move ahead with their own effort to secure the chokepoint, statements provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation show.

The dueling efforts show Western governments are moving on separate but overlapping tracks to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, where disrupted shipping threatens global energy markets and raises the risk of direct military confrontation with Iran. The U.K. and France have emphasized that their efforts are distinct from the proposed U.S. calls for broader participation in a separate initiative tied to maritime security in the strait.

“The [Joint French-U.K.] initiative is therefore entirely separate from the United States’ approach and remains defensive in nature,” a French military spokesperson told the DCNF.

“All NATO allies, including Latvia, have received the invitation to join the U.S.-led initiative on the maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz,” Sabīne Janisela, the press and public diplomacy counselor for the Embassy of Latvia, told the DCNF. “We support the multilateral efforts to ensure the maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. We welcome both the joint French-U.K. and U.S. initiatives, and we will continue to coordinate to achieve these goals.” (RELATED: Trump Says Hormuz Strikes Were ‘Just A Love Tap,’ Ceasefire In Effect)

The White House referred the DCNF to the State Department for comment. The Department of War, the State Department and NATO did not immediately respond.

An F-18 Hornet fighter jet prepares to land on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on February 14, 2018, as the carrier strike group takes part in a routine deployment mission in the South China Sea, one hour away from Manila.(AYEE MACARAIG/AFP via Getty Images)

“Belgium is joining the initiative led by the United Kingdom and France to clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines and guarantee safe passage,” Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs........

© The Daily Caller