Europe-Led Hormuz Coalition Finalizes Plans — 40+ Nations Prepare Post-Ceasefire Mission Without US

A coalition of more than 40 countries, including NATO allies Germany, France, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, and non-NATO European states, met on April 17 to finalize plans for a Europe-led mission to secure and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Bloomberg reported that 'European leaders offer military help to secure Strait of Hormuz' — but critically, the offer was explicitly conditioned on a durable ceasefire and was structured as a freedom-of-navigation mission distinct from Trump's blockade demand. The coalition, first convened via a UK FM David Lammy-chaired 40-nation video conference on April 2, had evolved into a concrete operational planning body. Germany committed warships pending ceasefire; France offered naval escorts; the UK provided coordination leadership. The Europe-led framework was explicitly positioned as an alternative to Trump's demand for allied participation in the active US-Iran military operation. The move represented Europe's most significant autonomous military initiative since the start of the NATO-US crisis — demonstrating that European allies could organize collective security action without US leadership. Euronews confirmed the coalition was 'preparing mission to reopen Strait of Hormuz' as a post-ceasefire stabilization force rather than a war-fighting blockade.