Britain will host a virtual meeting on Thursday with around 35 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and the UAE, to explore ways to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper will chair the discussions, which focus on restoring freedom of navigation after Iran effectively shut the waterway in response to recent US-Israeli strikes.
The United States will not participate in the talks, reflecting President Donald Trump’s position that nations dependent on the strait should take the lead in securing it. Trump has stated the Strait could reopen “naturally” and suggested countries “just take it, protect it, and use it for yourselves,” while simultaneously warning of potential US attacks on Iran’s oil and electricity infrastructure if negotiations fail.
The first phase of any reopening plan will likely prioritize clearing mines, followed by efforts to protect tankers. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that reopening the waterway will require a combination of military strength, diplomatic coordination, and collaboration with the shipping industry.
European nations, initially hesitant to send navies into the region, have been spurred into action by rising global energy prices. The Thursday meeting marks the first formal step toward forming a coalition to ensure safe passage through the Strait once hostilities subside.
