April 25 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated on Saturday that he was focused on efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a day after the head of TotalEnergies warned of global
Macron Urges Strait of Hormuz Reopening Amid Energy Shortage Fears
Global Energy Security at Risk Due to Strait of Hormuz Blockade
Macron's Diplomatic Efforts and Statements
April 25 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated on Saturday that he was focused on efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a day after the head of TotalEnergies warned of global energy shortages if the Iran war continues for months.
Macron, speaking at a news conference in Athens alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said panic caused by geopolitical uncertainty can in itself lead to shortages.
Commitment to International Law and Navigation
"Our goal is to achieve a full reopening in the coming days and weeks, in accordance with international law, guaranteeing freedom of navigation without tolls on the Strait of Hormuz. Then things can gradually return to normal," Macron said.
Industry Warnings and Economic Impact
TotalEnergies CEO's Concerns
TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne pressed on Friday for the reopening of the strait, through which about a fifth of the globe's oil and gas supply normally flows.
Consequences of Prolonged Disruption
"If it lasts two, three months more, we are entering in a world of scarcity of energy, which Asian countries have already suffered," Pouyanne told the World Policy Conference in Chantilly, outside Paris. "You cannot have 20% of the oil and gas of the planet being stranded and not accessible without major consequences."
Broader Trade and Supply Chain Implications
Movement through the strait, which is also a key transport route for goods including fertilisers and pharmaceuticals, has been choked due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, as Iran has seized container ships and the United States has mounted a blockade on Iranian ports.
International Response and Cooperation
Multinational Protection Initiatives
More than a dozen countries have said they are willing to join an international mission led by France and Britain to protect shipping in the strait when conditions permit, even as U.S. President Donald Trump has said he does not need allies' help.
Shared Global Stakes
"We're all in the same boat, and it's not a boat we chose, if I may say. We're victims of geopolitics and we're victims of this war that started several months ago," Macron said on Saturday.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Makini Brice in Paris; additional reporting by Claude Chendjou in Paris; Editing by Susan Fenton)
