France responded on the 1st of April to US President Donald Trump’s threat to withdraw from NATO, stating that the alliance was created to protect transatlantic security, not to launch attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters writes.
French President Emmanuel Macron has recommended the creation of UN guidelines for any activities in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has closed to shipping since late February. The strait is important for the international energy market, as about 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas are exported through it. Macron indicated that international operations can only begin when active hostilities cease, negotiations have been held with insurers and shipping companies, and Iran also agrees to open the strait.
Alice Rufo, Junior Army Minister, reminded the audience at the War&Peace conference in Paris about what NATO is: “It is a military alliance concerned with the security of the Euro-Atlantic region.
It is not designed to carry out operations in the Strait of Hormuz, which would be a breach of international law.”
Rufo, a close ally of Macron, said she understood the Americans’ irritation at France’s refusal to join the coalition to immediately clear the strait, but that Paris preferred to restore transit and freedom of movement, creating a plan without attacks.
Rufo reiterated that she understood the annoyance, but pointed out that she was not speaking on behalf of the United States, but on behalf of a founding member of NATO, and a founding member of the European Union, and a country that has been talking for the past 20 years about Europe taking greater responsibility for its own security.
France faced US displeasure on the 31st of March when it announced its decision to deny the use of its airspace to deliver weapons to Iran.
Read also: Pentagon: NATO collective defense depends on Trump’s decision