UK to host 35-nation meeting on reopening Strait of Hormuz
The United Kingdom has announced it will host a virtual meeting of about 35 countries this week to discuss how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping lane that has been effectively blocked by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
What the meeting is about
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the talks aim to “evaluate all viable diplomatic and political measures” to restore freedom of navigation, ensure the safety of stranded vessels and crews, and resume the flow of essential goods such as oil and gas through the Strait. The meeting will be chaired by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and is expected to include major energy‑importing and regional players, such as France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, the UAE, and several Gulf states.
UK’s stance and strategy
Starmer has stressed that “this is not our war” and that Britain will not be dragged into the conflict initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran, while still seeking to protect global trade routes. After the diplomatic talks, the UK plans to convene its own and allied military strategists to examine how naval and other resources can be deployed to secure the Strait once hostilities diminish.
