UK, France to convene 40-nation summit on strait of Hormuz crisis

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom and France will jointly host a summit bringing together more than 40 countries to tackle the ongoing closure and disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.

In a post shared on X on Monday, Starmer said the situation is already increasing pressure on the global economy due to the impact on international trade and shipping movement through the waterway.

He explained that the planned meeting will focus on building a coordinated response involving multiple countries to protect and secure international shipping routes.

According to him, the goal of the summit is to develop a joint multinational plan that will help restore safe and stable movement of goods across the affected maritime corridor.

“The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is deeply damaging. Getting global shipping moving is vital to ease cost of living pressures,” he said.

“The UK has convened more than 40 nations who share our aim to restore freedom of navigation.

“This week, the UK and France will co-host a summit to advance work on a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping when the conflict ends.”

The move follows failed negotiations between the United States and Iran over the reopening of the strait and Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Last week, Iran agreed to reopen the waterway for two weeks and to “suspend defensive operations” on the condition that attacks by the US and Israel would cease.

However, talks between both countries collapsed after 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital.

JD Vance, US vice-president, said Tehran declined to accept Washington’s terms, adding that the US requires a “fundamental commitment” from Iran not to develop nuclear weapons.

Negotiations between both countries have been ongoing, with the control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear ambitions remaining key points of disagreement.

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