Macron, in an exclusive interview with David Muir, the host of ABC News, explained the goals of his trip to the United States and cooperation with Donald Trump to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He identified one of the main objectives of this visit as addressing the global energy crisis caused by disruptions in this strategic route.
The Importance of the Strait of Hormuz and Concerns
The French President pointed out that with the onset of war, the Iranian government realized that it had the ability to close the Strait of Hormuz as an important "lever" at its disposal. According to Macron, the importance and implications related to the Strait of Hormuz had previously been "probably underestimated," and now action must be taken to resolve this issue and facilitate passage through this waterway.
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France's Role in International Operations
Macron explicitly stated that if the nature of an international operation to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is purely defensive, France will participate in it. He also emphasized that Paris does not seek to confront any country but is ready to play a greater role in protecting the capacities and facilities that make continued passage through this route possible.
In response to criticisms of previous U.S. decisions, he stated that the United States has more capability than other countries to help resolve the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, and European countries also need to cooperate with Washington. Macron also criticized the approach of regime change through bombing, deeming it ineffective.
The French President noted that the participation of allies in a war requires consultation and the formulation of a common strategy before the commencement of military operations. He pointed out that France was not involved in such a decision before the war began and did not join the war because Paris did not consider it the right option from the outset.
Macron emphasized that he remains firm in this assessment and does not see regime change in a country through bombing as feasible. He stated that Western countries have repeatedly made such mistakes in recent decades, and this approach cannot be a sustainable solution.
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