Britain is set to convene a meeting involving approximately 35 nations this week. The purpose of the gathering, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday, is to explore strategies for reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, currently crippled by conflict in the Middle East.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host these discussions, though the specific date remains unspecified. According to Starmer, the meeting aims to “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.”
Following this, military planners from participating countries will deliberate on how to ensure the strait’s accessibility and safety post-conflict. The meeting includes nations that have recently signed a statement expressing readiness to “contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Iran has effectively closed the vital waterway since the US-Israeli strikes on February 28, leading to significant increases in global oil and gas prices. Approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the strait during peacetime.
Starmer acknowledged that reopening the Strait of Hormuz will not be easy. Additionally, he reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to NATO amid renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump, who has previously described it as a “paper tiger.”