UK to host 35 countries for Strait of Hormuz talks
What's the story
The United Kingdom will host a meeting of 35 nations, excluding the US, to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway has been blocked by Iran, disrupting global oil and gas shipments. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the next round of talks in joint British-French efforts to secure the waterway will take place on Thursday.
Strategic significance
Safety of ships, seafarers a primary concern
Starmer said the meeting would "assess all viable diplomatic and political measures" to restore navigation freedom and ensure the safety of trapped ships and seafarers. He added that British military planners would meet afterward to discuss how they could make the strait accessible and safe after hostilities end. "This will not be easy," he admitted, adding that safety was a primary concern for shipowners.
Attendees list
Nations invited to discuss reopening strait
The meeting will bring together nations that signed a joint statement last month, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Other attendees are Australia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates. It commits the countries to a "readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait." The US has not been invited directly to the talks, as focus remains on signatories of the joint statement and other European allies.
Blockade impact
Around 1,000 ships stranded in the waterway
Iran's partial blockade has left around 1,000 ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict, tankers used to carry a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies through this channel. President Donald Trump has stated that there will be no ceasefire with Iran until it relinquishes control over the waterway. "We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free...Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!" he said.