British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom will convene a virtual meeting involving 35 countries to discuss measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively shut down due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Starmer stated that Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper will host the meeting on Thursday to assess diplomatic and political steps to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers, and resume the flow of vital commodities.
The UK leader added that following the meeting, military planners will be convened to examine how capabilities can be marshaled to make the strait accessible and safe after hostilities cease. Countries worldwide have expressed serious concerns about the closure of the strait, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies transit, amid US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Iranian retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.
The closure has sent global energy prices soaring, prompting nations to announce releases from their strategic oil and gas reserves in an effort to mitigate the crisis. Starmer noted that countries which recently signed a statement expressing readiness "to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz" will participate in the talks. In addition to the UK, signatories include France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Starmer cautioned that "this will not be easy." The UK and other European countries have faced condemnation from US President Donald Trump, who has accused them of failing to take action to reopen the strait and not providing sufficient support to Washington in its war effort. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that "all those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom" should either purchase from the US or "build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT."
Trump asserted that "Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!" These remarks have intensified pressure on the UK and its allies as they grapple with a global energy crunch and navigate their stance toward the military policies of the US regime and its aligned partners.
Source: www.aljazeera.com