UK To Host 35-Nation Talks On Hormuz Shipping Crisis
The United Kingdom will host a virtual meeting of about 35 countries on Thursday to discuss efforts to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been severely disrupted by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the initiative on Wednesday, stating that the talks will focus on identifying diplomatic and political solutions to reopen the strategic waterway.
According to him, the discussions will be led by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and will involve countries that have already expressed willingness to support safe passage through the strait.
“The meeting will assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and resume the movement of vital commodities,” Starmer said during a briefing at Downing Street.
He added that military planners would also be engaged after the talks to explore how participating countries could coordinate capabilities to secure the route once hostilities subside.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, has been largely inaccessible following the escalation of fighting triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. The disruption has significantly impacted global energy markets, as roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes through the narrow channel.
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Starmer cautioned that reopening the strait would be challenging, saying, “This will not be easy,” while stressing the importance of coordinated international action.
Countries including United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Netherlands are among those that have signalled readiness to contribute to efforts aimed at restoring safe navigation.
The development comes amid broader tensions between Western allies and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has criticised NATO and suggested that countries affected by fuel shortages should take independent action to secure oil supplies.
Despite the criticism, Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, describing it as “the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen.”