Officials said the talks would focus on practical steps such as mine clearance, naval escorts, and support for commercial shipping, with Germany indicating it could contribute demining and reconnaissance vessels if there is an appropriate mandate. A central fault line remains Washington’s role: Berlin sees no realistic way to secure the strait over the long term without US involvement, while Paris is deliberately excluding the United States from the current planning phase for what it says would be a strictly defensive mission deployed only after hostilities end. The meeting, co‑hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, comes as around 40 countries consider how to prevent a prolonged disruption to one of the world’s most important energy corridors once conditions allow for a reopening of the Strait.