Arabic version: المملكة المتحدة تقود قمة افتراضية لإعادة فتح ممر شحن مضيق هرمز
According to BBC News,
A coalition of about 30 nations are to discuss plans to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane in the Middle East, at a virtual summit hosted by the UK on Thursday. The virtual summit is expected to consider what diplomatic and political steps could be taken to reopen the important shipping route, though the US was not set to attend.
The amount of cargo traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has drastically decreased since war broke out. Iran has attacked several vessels in the strait in response to the war waged against it by the US and Israel, severely disrupting energy exports and sending global fuel prices soaring.
US President Donald Trump said it was for other nations to “build up some delayed courage” and reopen the route. Trump said allies “should have done it” earlier, adding: “Go to the Strait and just take it. Protect it. Use it for yourselves.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to chair Thursday’s virtual meeting. The summit was expected to involve governments which signed a joint statement in mid-March calling on Iranian forces to halt attacks against commercial ships. That statement was supported by some Gulf nations, as well as France, Germany, Japan, Australia and others. The statement says: “We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.”
The talks come a day after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK was “exploring each and every diplomatic avenue that is available” to reopen the route. He also said British military planners would consider what could be done in the future to “make the Strait accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped.” At the same time, governments around the world are weighing how to respond to cost-of-living pressures triggered by rising energy prices.
About a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The price of a barrel of Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, has jumped from $73 (£55) to well over $100 in recent weeks.
