LONDON: Around 40 countries are exploring joint action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran blocked the vital waterway, Britain said on Thursday, warning that the disruption is threatening global economic stability.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who chaired a virtual meeting of foreign ministers, said Iran’s actions were “hitting our global economic security”.
“We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” she said in opening remarks before the talks continued behind closed doors.
The meeting brought together representatives from countries including France, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and India, as governments step up efforts to address disruptions to one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
The strait carries around a fifth of global oil consumption and has been largely shut down following Iranian measures after the US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28.
Participants in the talks agreed on the need to ensure safe passage through the waterway and called on Iran to cease attempts to block it, according to officials, cited by Reuters.
The United States did not attend the meeting, a British official said, following remarks by US President Donald Trump that securing the strait should be the responsibility of countries that rely on it.
Efforts to form coalition to secure Hormuz
European diplomats said efforts to form a coalition to secure the route were still at an early stage, with Britain and France taking a leading role.
Discussions focused on identifying countries willing to participate and assessing diplomatic and military options.
A spokesperson for the French armed forces, Guillaume Vernet, said any operation would likely be multi-phased and could only proceed once hostilities ease.
He added that ensuring confidence among shipowners and lowering insurance premiums would be key to restoring traffic through the strait.
“There would need to be coordination capabilities in the air and at sea, as well as intelligence sharing,” Vernet said, noting that talks had also begun on potential military contributions.
Britain said it would host a follow-up meeting of military planners next week.
Military action to reopen Hormuz
Trump has urged countries to take more decisive action, saying countries dependent on the strait should “build up some delayed courage” and secure it themselves.
However, French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the idea of a military operation to reopen the waterway, calling it unrealistic.
“It would take an indefinite amount of time and expose vessels to significant risks,” Macron said during a visit to South Korea.
He stressed that reopening the strait would ultimately require dialogue with Iran.
