UK to host international talks on securing the Strait of Hormuz
According to the British prime minister, around 30 countries are set to join discussions on maritime security and post-conflict access to the key shipping route
The United Kingdom will host a meeting this week involving around 30 countries focused on securing the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday. The talks aim to coordinate international efforts to ensure maritime security in the Gulf following ongoing conflict in the region.
Starmer said the UK's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will lead the meeting, which is intended to align participating countries around a common approach. He said the goal is to act “as one for maritime security across the Gulf.”
Following the diplomatic discussions, military planners are expected to convene to assess operational steps. “They will look at how we can marshal our capabilities and make the Strait accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped,” Starmer said. He cautioned that the effort would be complex, adding, “I do have to level with people on this. This will not be easy.”
The initiative comes amid growing concern over disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade route. The waterway is a key transit point for energy supplies, and recent instability has raised risks for international markets and supply chains.
Starmer said he had met earlier in the week with business leaders from the shipping, finance, insurance, and energy sectors at Downing Street. According to the prime minister, they were “clear” that the “primary challenge” is ensuring safe passage through the strait.