18 hours ago, bannork said:

Britain and France are scrambling to build a multinational force to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions with Donald Trump deepen and global energy flows hang in the balance. The effort marks a bold attempt to stabilise one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes — without Washington at the helm.

With up to a fifth of global oil supplies at risk, the stakes are immediate and severe.

A Coalition Born in Defiance

At the centre are Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, who convened more than 50 countries to back a new “Coalition of the Willing”. Their message was blunt: freedom of navigation cannot be dictated by Tehran.

The move comes as Iran threatens steep transit tolls, while conflicting signals from Washington — declaring the crisis “over” even as tensions persist — have unsettled allies.

Washington Frozen Out — For Now

The US was notably absent from talks, reflecting a widening transatlantic rift. While some European leaders quietly argue US firepower is indispensable, others see exclusion as a chance to assert strategic independence.

Trump, meanwhile, has lashed out at NATO allies, insisting the US could secure the strait alone — even as it pressures Europe to act.

Blueprint for a Fragile Peace

The European plan is taking shape: minesweepers to clear hazards, warships to escort tankers, and a broad coalition to deter Iranian aggression. France has signalled readiness to deploy naval assets, while Germany could contribute surveillance aircraft and mine-clearing capabilities.

Asian powers, including India and Japan, are being courted — both to share the burden and to open diplomatic backchannels with Tehran.

Deterrence or Escalation?

The logic is simple: a multinational naval presence raises the cost of any attack. Striking one vessel risks dragging dozens of nations into conflict.

But the plan hinges on a critical unknown — what happens if Iran strikes anyway. Without a clear mandate for force, the coalition risks appearing strong but acting weak.

Cost, Capability and Credibility

Practical hurdles are mounting. Questions persist over whether European fleets — particularly Britain’s ageing minehunters — can sustain such an operation. Insurance markets, not warships, may ultimately decide if the strait is truly open.

For now, Europe is betting it can succeed where Washington has stumbled. If it fails, the consequences will ripple far beyond the Gulf.

The UK-France plan to fix Iran crisis without Donald Trump

Great news and now Iran is even more screwed. They were already toast but with the might of the EU it is going to even more difficult for them to dream up scenario where they don't have to concede to Trumps/EU demands.

2 hours ago, FlorC said:

Until Canada stops its oil exports.

And he can't steal it from others like Venezuela.

Canada needs the money as much as anyone. The US buys most of their exports.

Have the Europeans finalized the plan?

20 hours ago, Mavideol said:

you should get informed before making a stu.. comment

Uh uh. Every country has territorial boundaries extending past their shores. Hormuz is 21-24 miles. US is 14 miles. Iran & Oman own the Strait.

19 hours ago, 0ffshore360 said:

IMPO Europeans are intending to intervene in a interuptive move.

If neutral forces provide a shepherding role blocking aggression from either side will the US or Ian risk that spectrum of escalation ?

No doubt Trump will announce delusional claims of belated assistance in the defeat of Iran and if any level of rational advice can be comprehended concede "control" of the military situation on the basis that the US has no essential interest in the Straits of Hormuz while Iran will assess any genuine level of pacification.

The USA is rapidly descending into the status of fascist pariah state in companionship with Israel under the current GOP regime.

The way things are going, soon Israel will be their only ally.

On 4/20/2026 at 3:37 AM, Rockyroad said:

Poor europe desperate to save face after weeks of nothing.

On 4/20/2026 at 3:38 AM, Rockyroad said:

War be over before they arrive

The Europeans/grown-ups are making moves to fix the idiocy started by Trump and Netanyahu.

Will you Aussies chip in?

19 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Correct. I was wrong. The waterway is both Iranian and Omani territorial waters, however, international law guarantees free passage.

When did the US start caring about 'international law'?

On 4/20/2026 at 2:29 AM, gargamon said:

Poor Donnie. Losing again.

No peace prize for you.

Not to worry. He recently won the prestigious Golden Butthead award.

19 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Correct. I was wrong. The waterway is both Iranian and Omani territorial waters, however, international law guarantees free passage.

You mean those 'drug boats' in int'l waters?

19 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Correct. I was wrong. The waterway is both Iranian and Omani territorial waters, however, international law guarantees free passage.

Yes and now that the US has destroyed the so called

"international rules based order"

anything goes, international law

something that the bully boy

'Uncle Sam' says is for everyone else to abide by..not for them.

Europe thanks to Bruxelles has foolishly gone to the dogs. It would cost Europe far less to re open doing business of cheap oil trade with Russia,...rather then entering into the war initiatited by Israel in which America very foolishly has got drawn into.

11 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

Europe thanks to Bruxelles has foolishly gone to the dogs. It would cost Europe far less to re open doing business of cheap oil trade with Russia,...rather then entering into the war initiatited by Israel in which America very foolishly has got drawn into.

Tell Russia to get out of Ukraine then and behave like a civilised nation instead of killing women and children every day.

1 hour ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Not to worry. He recently won the prestigious Golden Butthead award.

What did you win? The US Masters 555

21 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Correct. I was wrong. The waterway is both Iranian and Omani territorial waters, however, international law guarantees free passage.

Interesting. You mean, in the same way the USA forbids goods transported by water between US ports to be carried by ships that are not US-flagged (it is called the Jones act and in place since 1920)?

Where is the outrage about that? It seems, you guys make it up as you go...

1 hour ago, jts-khorat said:

Interesting. You mean, in the same way the USA forbids goods transported by water between US ports to be carried by ships that are not US-flagged (it is called the Jones act and in place since 1920)?

Where is the outrage about that? It seems, you guys make it up as you go...

Do you not understand the difference between the two?

On 4/20/2026 at 2:00 PM, johng said:

Strait of Hormuz

is not 'international' waters!

True.........

The Strait of Hormuz is legally considered an international strait under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), meaning ships have the right of “transit passage” without interference.

9 hours ago, MIke B Bad said:

True.........

The Strait of Hormuz is legally considered an international strait under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), meaning ships have the right of “transit passage” without interference.

Is that the same UNCLOS the USA have actually not ratified and is a treaty the USA is not party to?

Being the "world policeman", but -- of course, American exceptionism! -- standing high above all those pesky international laws the majority of the world adheres to, looking down your nose at us small "other people"..

Again, where is the outrage about that? It seems, you guys make it up as you go (I just said it above!)...

Frankly, quite often I get the urge to vomit whenever I hear an American talk about "right and wrong", preaching "freedom" or "democracy" -- while standing for exactly the opposite, being nothing more than a bully enforcing "might is right" (and on top of that, being too stupid or too indoctrinated to see it for what it is themselves).

On 4/20/2026 at 9:11 AM, bannork said:

The other nations never had to 'fight to get the Strait open ' because they were wise enough to never get it closed.

Only Trump with his God driven minister of war were stupid enough to get it closed.

It should be ' you broke it, you fix it' but I'm not sure they've got the brains to do it.

On 4/20/2026 at 9:11 AM, bannork said:

The other nations never had to 'fight to get the Strait open ' because they were wise enough to never get it closed.

Only Trump with his God driven minister of war were stupid enough to get it closed.

It should be ' you broke it, you fix it' but I'm not sure they've got the brains to do it.

On 4/20/2026 at 9:11 AM, bannork said:

Sure, that it because they truth a blind eye to a brutal, fanatic regim that hang young people and massecare 10sn of thousands of their own people as long as they get their tainted oil, while iran build nuclear weapons to lob at any country they deem to be '' unfriendly'' to them.

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

On 4/20/2026 at 12:11 AM, bannork said:

The other nations never had to 'fight to get the Strait open ' because they were wise enough to never get it closed.

On 4/20/2026 at 12:11 AM, bannork said:

The other nations never had to 'fight to get the Strait open ' because they were wise enough to never get it closed.

On 4/20/2026 at 12:11 AM, bannork said:

Sure, that it because they truth a blind eye to a brutal, fanatic regim that hang young people and massecare 10sn of thousands of their own people as long as they get their tainted oil, while iran build nuclear weapons to lob at any country they deem to be '' unfriendly'' to them.

You've messed up the quotes here, Ezzra. That third quote about turning a blind eye to massacring their own people, consists of your words, not mine.

I don't think Trump attacked Iran to free the people. In fact he told them help is on its way and then did nothing.

Regarding a nuclear bomb, why did Trump tear up the agreement with Iran that had worked when Obama was in power?

And didn't he say, along with Hegseth, that they had obliterated Iran's nuclear programme last June?

Does anyone have an update on Europe's grand plan?

1 hour ago, bannork said:

You've messed up the quotes here, Ezzra. That third quote about turning a blind eye to massacring their own people, consists of your words, not mine.

I don't think Trump attacked Iran to free the people. In fact he told them help is on its way and then did nothing.

Regarding a nuclear bomb, why did Trump tear up the agreement with Iran that had worked when Obama was in power?

And didn't he say, along with Hegseth, that they had obliterated Iran's nuclear programme last June?

The US did not attack Iran to institute regime change. The US attacked Iran to destroy their nuclear warhead, intercontinental ballistic missile and drone programs as well as their air force and navy.

The US destroyed the two of the nuclear weapons development sites last June, and Iran immediate began digging them out.

The JCPOA was worthless. It funded Iran's military buildup and Iran's proxies in the middle east. It did not ensure Iran could not develop deliverable nuclear weapons. To say it did is to lie.

Do you believe Iran should be allowed to continue developing their nuclear warhead and intercontinental ballistic missile programs?

Do you think Iran should be allowed to continue arming and funding Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Shiite Militias and the Houthis?

7 minutes ago, Effective altruism said:

Does anyone have an update on Europe's grand plan?

They are getting ready to moan louder and howl about Trump.

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

They are getting ready to moan louder and howl about Trump.

The European Union reminds me of an old cartoon.

22 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Uh uh. Every country has territorial boundaries extending past their shores. Hormuz is 21-24 miles. US is 14 miles. Iran & Oman own the Strait.

let's see if we can clarify your misunderstanding, below there are the easy way how to explain the law of the sea applying to straits, enjoy....

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Law-of-the-Sea

According to the 1982 convention, each country’s sovereign territorial waters extend to a maximum of 12 nautical miles (22 km) beyond its coast, but foreign vessels are granted the right of innocent passage through this zone.

Where territorial waters comprise straits used for international navigation (e.g., the straits of Gibraltar, Mandeb, Hormuz, and Malacca), the navigational rights of foreign shipping are strengthened by the replacement of the regime of innocent passage by one of transit passage, which places fewer restrictions on foreign ships

The shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz are located primarily in Omani territorial waters, and partially in Iranian territorial waters, but they are governed by international maritime law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

https://www.britannica.com/question/Who-owns-the-Strait-of-Hormuz

Iran and the U.S. live in 2 different worlds, law of the sea expert says—and both of those are different from most maritime law

https://fortune.com/2026/04/15/strait-hormuz-maritime-law-international-waters/

The war started by israel who managed to draw in America and now Europe, will cost billions to european taxpayers. Europe will definately remember who started the whole issue with the iranian terrorist state. At the end of the day it's one terrorist nation against the other.

4 hours ago, Effective altruism said:

Does anyone have an update on Europe's grand plan?

After having already cut off their own nose to spite their face (Nordstream pipeline)

They will now shoot themselves in the foot (more sanctions ) and then write a long letter to the UN about how despicable Iran is for not surrendering unconditionally to the whims of pariah states Israel and the US.

Have the great powers of Eruope presented the plan?

3 hours ago, Effective altruism said:

Have the great powers of Eruope presented the plan?

you must be desperate for attention, posting the same non sense over and over, you should change meds and get help

On 4/22/2026 at 8:15 AM, Effective altruism said:

Does anyone have an update on Europe's grand plan?

Does anyone have knowledge of an existing plan from Trump. And with plan I don't mean his Mexican dinner plans

On 4/19/2026 at 10:38 PM, Rockyroad said:

War be over before they arrive

I guess that's exactly the plan! 😃