India participated in a high-level international meeting in Paris on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, even as the United States remained absent from the summit, highlighting parallel diplomatic efforts to stabilise the region.
Confirming India’s participation, Randhir Jaiswal said in a media briefing that New Delhi had been invited to the meeting, which brought together around 40 countries to address maritime security and energy disruptions.
The conference, led by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, was underway when Iran announced that the key shipping route would be reopened during the ongoing ceasefire.
According to BBC, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strait had been “declared completely open” for commercial vessels for the remainder of the truce. Despite being central to the conflict, the US was not part of the Paris discussions or the proposed maritime initiative.
Opening the summit, Macron warned of the “very severe consequences” the closure of the strait had for “the whole of the planet and the global economy,” while welcoming recent developments and calling for the “full immediate and unconditional reopening” of the waterway.
Starmer said leaders welcomed Iran’s move but stressed durability, stating the reopening must be “a long lasting and workable solution.” He added that France and the UK would lead a “strictly peaceful and defensive” international mission to safeguard navigation, with a planning conference scheduled in London next week.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was in the “immediate interests” of all parties to push for peace and backed a “quick diplomatic agreement” between the US and Iran. While welcoming the “good news” on Hormuz, he stressed the need for a “lasting, secure and toll free” arrangement.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the reopening as a “fundamental principle of international law,” adding that ceasefires in Iran and Lebanon must be integrated into broader negotiations. She termed the proposed mission “purely defensive,” focused on ensuring safe passage and maritime security.
The Paris meeting reflects efforts by non-belligerent countries, including India, to mitigate the global economic fallout of the crisis and restore stability to a route that carries nearly a fifth of the world’s energy supplies. While Iran’s announcement and Trump’s reaction injected momentum, leaders emphasised that a sustained, unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. free of restrictions, remains essential for global economic stability and regional peace.
