Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, April 2, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Macron says it is ‘unrealistic’ to open Hormuz Strait by force
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French President Emmanuel Macron waves upon his arrival at the Seoul airport in Seongnam, South Korea, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
French President Emmanuel Macron says it would be unrealistic to launch a military operation to force open the Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump challenged US allies to work towards reopening it.
“Some people defend the idea of freeing the Strait of Hormuz by force via a military operation, a position sometimes expressed by the United States, although it has varied,” Macron tells reporters during a trip to South Korea.
“This was never the option we have supported because it is unrealistic,” he adds. “It would take forever, and would expose all those who go through the strait to risks from the guardians of the revolution but also ballistic missiles,” he says.
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