French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that he and US President Donald Trump had agreed to work together to reduce pressure on global energy markets by protecting critical infrastructure in the Middle East and safeguarding freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Macron made the remarks after meeting Trump in New York, saying the two leaders had discussed measures aimed at easing tensions in energy markets amid growing concerns over regional security and the potential impact on global energy supplies.
“We decided to act together to ease tensions in the energy markets, by protecting critical infrastructure in the Middle East and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Macron said in a post on X following the meeting.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important maritime route through which a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passes. Any disruption to shipping through the waterway could affect energy prices and global markets.
Macron said France and the United States would also coordinate efforts to establish a moratorium on attacks against energy infrastructure. He said the initiative would extend to Ukrainian civilian infrastructure as part of broader efforts to reduce the humanitarian and economic consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war.
The French president emphasized the need to protect civilians and move toward diplomatic negotiations to end the conflict.
“Civilian populations must be protected, and we must initiate as soon as possible a serious negotiation on the conditions for peace between Russia and Ukraine,” Macron said.
The comments came as international concerns continued over the security of critical infrastructure and energy supply routes amid conflicts and geopolitical tensions. Macron’s remarks highlighted the importance France and the United States place on protecting civilian facilities, maintaining maritime navigation and limiting further damage to infrastructure.
The proposed cooperation would combine diplomatic and security efforts by the two countries, while also seeking to reduce risks to global energy markets and create conditions for renewed negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
