European powers are moving to establish a multinational naval mission to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after fighting in the Iran war disrupted traffic through one of the world’s most important trade routes.
At talks in London this week, military planners from 30 countries discussed how such an operation might work in practice and how to protect commercial ships.
What would a ‘defensive mission’ involve?
At the heart of the United Kingdom and France’s proposals is a “strictly defensive” multinational naval operation – focused on protecting commercial ships from attacks rather than targeting land targets. Both countries say that this mission will be deployed only after negotiations on the end of hostilities between the United States and Iran.
According to Jürgen Ehle, a retired German rear admiral and former senior military adviser to the EU, such a mission would involve responding to attacks rather than engaging in an offensive. In practice, this means defending ships targeted by missiles, drones or fast attack craft rather than attacking Iranian military infrastructure or troops on the ground.
Experts told DW that the operation would require aircraft from frigates or destroyers equipped with air defense systems, as well as unmanned systems, including mine-hunting drones, to detect and neutralize naval mines.
The European Three (E3) – comprising Germany, France and the UK – are expected to bear the majority of the military burden. Germany has indicated it would be willing to contribute mine clearance ships and maritime reconnaissance pending parliamentary approval. Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasizes the need for a clear legal order before any deployment.
France already has significant naval assets in the region, including eight battleships, one aircraft carrier and two amphibious assault ships. President Emmanuel Macron said forces currently deployed in the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea, including the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, could be partially redirected to support the mission.
The UK’s contribution has not yet been specified. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said more than a dozen countries have expressed interest in contributing assets, but did not specify what London would provide. While Britain has advanced destroyers; However, “their readiness and availability remains unclear,” Bence Nemeth, a senior lecturer in defense studies at King’s College London, told DW.
What are the risks for Europe?
Deploying naval assets to the Gulf could enhance European capabilities at a time of rising tensions closer to home. Nemeth warned that Europe needs to balance threats from Russia, especially in the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic. “The Europeans need their naval assets first to protect themselves,” Nemeth said. “They can’t trust America like they used to,” he said.
Operational risks in the Gulf remain significant. Ehle said that “air defense capabilities do not ensure 100% protection,” especially against large-scale drone attacks.
am writing for Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)David B. Roberts highlighted the “layered” threat environment, ranging from “slow, low-altitude moving munitions to fast-moving anti-ship missiles at the low end and contact mines at high altitude.” [end.]”
Can diplomacy ensure stability?
Analysts broadly agree that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be secured by naval deployment alone. “Only a diplomatic agreement – in which Iran makes the sovereign political decision to disengage – is likely to completely stop the attacks,” Roberts said.
France and the UK are trying to expand the alliance beyond Europe to include countries such as India – which supplies about 10% of the world’s seafarers – and South Korea. The aim is to increase diplomatic leverage and eventually restart commercial shipping.
“Countries have different reasons for participating in these negotiations,” Nemeth says, adding, “The most common reasons are freedom of navigation, international law, and energy security.”
“These states do not want to normalize a situation in which a power could use force and geography to control a critical maritime choke point,” he said. “This would set a dangerous precedent for global trade.”
As Europe works to form an alliance, countries including India, Pakistan and China are also making bilateral arrangements with Tehran to maintain shipping flows, although volumes “remain modest”, Roberts wrote.
For now, Europe is preparing a limited defensive naval mission with an emphasis on a political solution. Whether enough countries will support this approach is unclear.