UK to Rally 35 Nations for Coalition to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom is organizing a meeting with 35 countries to discuss how to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this, according to The Guardian.

At present, Iran is blocking this crucial route for global oil and gas supplies.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday. It will be attended by representatives of countries that previously signed a joint statement expressing their readiness to help ensure safe passage for ships through the strait after the fighting ends.

Meanwhile, the United States is not included in this group. Since late February, it has been conducting a military operation against Iran together with Israel. In response, Iran has blocked the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The British Prime Minister noted that participants must assess “all possible diplomatic and political steps” to restore safe navigation, protect vessels and sailors, and resume oil and gas supplies.

This will be the first meeting of countries to discuss a plan for restoring passage through the strait. At the same time, Starmer warned that a quick restoration of safe shipping is not guaranteed and that the operation could be complex.

So far, the countries that have agreed to join the initiative include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, and others.

At the end of March, it was announced that the United Kingdom is preparing the RFA Lyme Bay auxiliary dock landing ship for deployment in the Strait of Hormuz to counter sea mines.

The United Arab Emirates has also expressed readiness to join a military operation to unblock the Strait of Hormuz if the United States and other allies decide to carry it out.

Strait of Hormuz

As previously reported, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz almost immediately after the outbreak of the war. It is one of the most important maritime transport routes in the world. The Strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The Strait lies between the coast of Iran to the north and the territories of Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south. Oil is transported along this route by Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Blocking the strait creates critical risks for global energy security.