Australia joined a trilateral summit with France and the United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 14, to discuss the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz—a summit notable for the absence of the United States. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, this high-level meeting reflects the three powers' desire to coordinate their own response to the crisis, independently of Washington's unilateral strategy.
A Transatlantic Rift
The summit comes as Washington's traditional allies express their unease with the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, which several European capitals deem disproportionate and contrary to international maritime law. France, which has a naval base in Abu Dhabi and major interests in the Gulf, advocates for a multilateral approach. The United Kingdom, traditionally aligned with Washington, is adopting a more independent stance this time.
Stakes for Australia
For Canberra, the stakes are both energy and strategic. Australia, although an oil producer, relies heavily on refined product imports transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Australian Prime Minister emphasized the need to "protect freedom of navigation without provoking further escalation." This nuanced position reflects the tension between the AUKUS alliance with the United States and the necessity of maintaining trade relations with countries in the region.
Towards a European Naval Force?
According to diplomatic sources cited by the Sydney Morning Herald, the three countries are considering the deployment of a joint naval force to protect merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, modeled on the European EMASOH operation launched in 2020. This initiative would mark a growing autonomy for Western allies from American strategy in the Gulf—a geopolitical turning point that analysts describe as "post-Atlanticist."
