France has started the European Maritime Awareness mission in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASoH) aimed at ensuring the freedom of navigation in the Gulf.
The awareness mission also promotes a de-escalation approach with Iran, Reuters reported.
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After ruling out participation in a coalition led by the US protecting oil tankers and cargo ships, the French Government has pushed for a European security alternative in the Strait of Hormuz.
The French Ministry of Armed Forces said that Courbet, a second-line multi-mission stealth frigate of the French Marine Nationale, started patrolling in the Strait of Hormuz and will be joined by a Dutch frigate soon.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the key routes for oil transit worldwide.
Last month, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and France supported the creation of EMASoH.
The eight European countries aim to contribute to the protection of oil tankers and cargo ships with EMASoH, the European-led maritime surveillance mission in the Strait of Hormuz.
The mission aims to ensure a safe navigation environment and to lower the existing tensions in the region in complementarity with existing maritime security efforts, as well as initiatives in the region, including IMSC.
EMASoH will deploy additional maritime surveillance assets in the Gulf and Arabian Sea to offer improved maritime situation awareness and surveillance in full accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
It will also ensure adequate coordination and information sharing mechanisms with all partners operating in the area, including the maritime industry.
