403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
France, India Vow Joint Push to Secure Hormuz Shipping Lanes
(MENAFN) France is moving to coordinate with India on safeguarding freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while also voicing support for Pakistan's efforts to mediate between Iran and the United States, the French Foreign Ministry said Monday.
The announcements followed a series of sideline meetings held by Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot during the UN General Assembly gathering in New York, where he sat down separately with his counterparts from India and Pakistan.
In talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the two officials "underscored the imperative of ensuring freedom of navigation" through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Barrot floated the idea of a joint French-Indian effort on the matter, calling it "crucial to the stability and prosperity of Europe and Asia." He also pointed back to an earlier joint initiative launched by France and Britain aimed at protecting shipping through Hormuz.
Beyond maritime security, Barrot and Jaishankar reaffirmed their two nations' shared commitment to international law and voiced joint backing for "effective and reformed multilateralism," reiterating their long-standing push to restructure the UN Security Council.
The ministers also renewed calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine and for "a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in accordance with international law." Separately, they pointed to advancing cooperation under the "comprehensive and special Franco-Indian strategic partnership," citing gains in defense, emerging technology and higher education.
In a separate sit-down, Barrot met with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss regional developments. He welcomed Islamabad's mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington, emphasizing the importance of "the most inclusive negotiations possible" — both to safeguard energy supplies and to "sustainably address the threats posed by Iran in the nuclear, ballistic and regional spheres." The two sides agreed to deepen bilateral ties further, citing university partnerships, cultural exchange and sustainable development as priority areas.
The diplomatic push comes against the backdrop of a volatile few months in the region. The US and Israel launched sweeping strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, hitting government buildings, military installations, missile infrastructure and air defense systems; Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel and on US bases throughout the region. Hostilities eased with an April ceasefire, followed by a June memorandum meant to pave the way toward a comprehensive peace deal within 60 days. That agreement unraveled weeks later, and Pakistan and Qatar have since continued working to broker an end to the conflict.
The announcements followed a series of sideline meetings held by Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot during the UN General Assembly gathering in New York, where he sat down separately with his counterparts from India and Pakistan.
In talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the two officials "underscored the imperative of ensuring freedom of navigation" through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Barrot floated the idea of a joint French-Indian effort on the matter, calling it "crucial to the stability and prosperity of Europe and Asia." He also pointed back to an earlier joint initiative launched by France and Britain aimed at protecting shipping through Hormuz.
Beyond maritime security, Barrot and Jaishankar reaffirmed their two nations' shared commitment to international law and voiced joint backing for "effective and reformed multilateralism," reiterating their long-standing push to restructure the UN Security Council.
The ministers also renewed calls for a ceasefire in Ukraine and for "a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in accordance with international law." Separately, they pointed to advancing cooperation under the "comprehensive and special Franco-Indian strategic partnership," citing gains in defense, emerging technology and higher education.
In a separate sit-down, Barrot met with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss regional developments. He welcomed Islamabad's mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington, emphasizing the importance of "the most inclusive negotiations possible" — both to safeguard energy supplies and to "sustainably address the threats posed by Iran in the nuclear, ballistic and regional spheres." The two sides agreed to deepen bilateral ties further, citing university partnerships, cultural exchange and sustainable development as priority areas.
The diplomatic push comes against the backdrop of a volatile few months in the region. The US and Israel launched sweeping strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, hitting government buildings, military installations, missile infrastructure and air defense systems; Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel and on US bases throughout the region. Hostilities eased with an April ceasefire, followed by a June memorandum meant to pave the way toward a comprehensive peace deal within 60 days. That agreement unraveled weeks later, and Pakistan and Qatar have since continued working to broker an end to the conflict.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any
responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos,
licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues
related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment