In a concerted global response to recent disruptions in critical sea lanes, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday chaired a virtual meeting to launch a new Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative, aimed at safeguarding commercial shipping and stabilising global energy flows.The meeting — attended by around 40 countries, including India — comes even as Iran confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open for commercial vessels during the ongoing Lebanon ceasefire, easing immediate concerns over global oil supplies.Starmer described the reopening as “good news” but stressed that it must lead to a “long-lasting and workable solution” without tolls or restrictions. “We need to see a return to peace and stability, and a permanent ceasefire,” he said, underlining the need to convert the fragile truce into sustained regional stability.The proposed initiative will reportedly focus on securing shipping routes, supporting mine-clearance operations and facilitating coordinated maritime security efforts. Planning is already underway for a multi-nation deployment with a follow-up military coordination meeting scheduled in the UK next week.Echoing concerns over potential restrictions, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said freedom of navigation through key waterways must remain open and free under international law.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said restoring “full and permanent freedom of navigation” in Hormuz was an urgent shared priority, outlining plans for enhanced satellite monitoring, reinforcement of European naval deployments and closer coordination with Gulf partners. She also said, “Any move to impose transit fees will set a dangerous precedent for global trade routes.”