Britain is set to host a virtual summit on Thursday, bringing together about 40 countries to address the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. This critical waterway, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and gas travels, has been effectively shuttered due to the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran.
Key Takeaways
The UK will host a virtual summit with around 40 countries to address Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil and gas transport. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will lead discussions on reopening the strait amid soaring energy prices and international economic strain.
- The summit aims to restore navigation, ensure safety for trapped ships, and resume commodity movement.
- Global energy prices have surged above $100 per barrel due to the closure.
- US President Donald Trump has criticized allies for inaction and urged them to take responsibility.
- The UK's Royal Navy faces criticism over its capabilities amid tensions with Iran.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will lead the meeting to assess diplomatic and political measures for reopening the strait. The summit aims to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers, and resume the movement of vital commodities.
The closure has sent global energy prices soaring above $100 per barrel, prompting nations like Japan, India, and Malaysia to release some of their strategic oil reserves in an effort to lessen the crisis. Countries across Asia have been hit hard, with governments imposing limits on driving and shortening working weeks to conserve energy.
US President Donald Trump has criticized allies for not taking action to reopen the strait or providing sufficient support in the war effort. He posted on Truth Social that countries like the UK should either buy jet fuel from the US or 'build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.' Meanwhile, King Charles III will proceed with a state visit to the United States next month despite calls for cancellation due to tensions between the two nations.
The US is not taking part in these talks. Trump said this week that it was not its responsibility to reopen the strait and told European countries to 'go get your own oil.' European nations had initially refused to get involved, fearing they would be dragged into the war. But as prices spike globally, EU nations have decided to join the UK’s coalition.
The meeting includes France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates among others. Any plan to reopen the strait will also include ensuring the maritime waterway is free of landmines, as well as a second phase to involve protecting tankers as they cross the area.
The summit signals that other nations besides the US are committed to acting diplomatically to get things back to normal. Starmer acknowledged that reopening the strait 'will not be easy.' Since the war began, Iran has demanded international recognition of its right to exercise authority over the Strait of Hormuz as one of its five conditions for calling a ceasefire.
The UK's Royal Navy has faced criticism from Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding its capabilities. The Royal Navy's two new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, are considered highly capable but have faced technical issues. The fleet size has significantly declined since World War II, with the number of vessels dropping from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025.
The Royal Navy's reduced capacity has been attributed to changing military priorities, technological advances, and the end of empire. Despite this, there is a growing understanding across the political divide that defense cuts have gone too far. Starmer aims to increase UK defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 as part of a NATO agreement pushed by Trump.
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