The United Kingdom will on Thursday convene a meeting of about 35 countries to deliberate on restoring safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor disrupted by rising tensions in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer disclosed this on Wednesday, noting that the high-level meeting would explore coordinated diplomatic and political measures to ensure the resumption of maritime activities in the strategic waterway.
Starmer said the discussions would focus on securing freedom of navigation, safeguarding vessels and crew currently stranded, and facilitating the steady flow of essential commodities, particularly crude oil and liquefied natural gas.
He added that the meeting would be hosted by the UK Foreign Secretary, bringing together countries that had earlier signalled willingness to support efforts to stabilise the maritime corridor.
Participating nations are expected to include major economies across Europe and Asia, reflecting broad international concern over the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global energy supplies is transported.
The development comes amid escalating tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which have heightened security risks in the region and impacted global oil markets.
According to Starmer, military planners would also meet subsequently to consider strategies for ensuring the safety and accessibility of the route once diplomatic efforts begin to yield results.
He, however, cautioned that restoring normalcy to the waterway would be complex, requiring sustained international cooperation and a blend of diplomatic engagement and security coordination.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints, accounting for a substantial portion of global petroleum shipments, making its stability vital to international energy security.
The planned meeting underscores growing global efforts to contain the crisis and minimise its economic implications on energy supply chains and international trade.
