British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that the United Kingdom will host a meeting this week with more than 30 countries ready to act to restore and ensure the safety of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Starmer stated at a press conference at the Prime Minister's residence in London: 'The United Kingdom has so far brought together 35 countries around our joint declaration of intent to stand united for maritime security in the Gulf. Since then, around thirty other countries have joined them.' Later this week, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host a meeting with these countries for the first time. Starmer added: 'During this meeting, we will assess all available diplomatic and political measures we can take to restore freedom of navigation, ensure the safety of ships and sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, and resume the flow of vital goods.' He explained that discussions will also take place at the level of 'military planners' from these countries 'to explore how we can mobilize our capabilities and make the Strait safe and accessible as soon as the fighting ends.' Since the outbreak of the conflict on February 28 following Israeli and American strikes on Iran, Tehran's near-total paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz, through which typically a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas production passes, has led to a sharp rise in fuel prices, which has had a global economic impact. On March 19, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan issued a joint statement announcing their readiness to contribute to efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
