UK Leads Hormuz Reopening Talks

The United Kingdom, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is hosting a virtual meeting of approximately 35 countries on Thursday to address the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz has been virtually closed by Iran since February 28, following US-Israeli strikes that initiated the Middle East war, leading to a significant surge in global oil and gas prices. The meeting, hosted by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, aims to assess diplomatic and political measures to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers, and resume the movement of vital commodities. Military planners will also be convened to discuss capabilities for making the Strait of Hormuz accessible and safe once fighting ceases. Countries like France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands have signed a statement expressing readiness to contribute to these efforts. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has also announced coordination with France to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Japan already drawing on its oil reserves. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer reaffirmed the United Kingdom's commitment to the NATO amidst criticism from Donald Trump, who called the alliance a 'paper tiger' and suggested the United States might reconsider its membership.