Neither the United States nor Israel or Iran have been invited to the first major European push to influence a war that was launched six weeks ago by a US-Israeli bombardment on Iran.
Europe insists it is not a party to the war, but as energy prices soar and munitions get diverted from Ukraine it is already paying the price.
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China is among the Asian nations to have been invited – demarched by both Paris and London, it is understood – although it was unclear at what level it would attend, if at all.
Definitely on the guest list is a smattering of European leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and a host of Gulf and Asian states with a shared interest in restoring shipping through the strait.
“What we will want to do with our partners from Europe, Asia, the Indo-Pacific, Latin America, Africa, is in essence to bring together in order to build a credible proposal which is in essence that of a third way,” said an Elysee official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
