France is building support for its military mission to the Strait of Hormuz.

This week, the country announced Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal all back a European surveillance outfit in response to the escalating tensions in the Middle East Gulf threatening commercial shipping.

Of those countries, France said the Netherlands, Greece and Denmark have joined it in committing forces to the effort, known as European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz or EMASOH.