Britain assembles 35-nation coalition to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Britain will host an international summit involving 35 nations to establish a coalition aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the government announced Wednesday.

The move serves as a direct response to threats from US President-elect Donald Trump to withdraw from the Iranian conflict without first ensuring the security of the vital waterway.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated April 1 that the ministerial meeting will focus on “making the strait accessible and safe once hostilities have concluded.” Military planners are also scheduled to convene this week to evaluate naval contingencies.

The Prime Minister confirmed that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will chair the ministerial talks to “examine all viable diplomatic and political measures to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of stranded vessels and mariners, and resume the transport of critical commodities.”

Four officials familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times that several nations, including France, the Netherlands, and Gulf states, are engaged in private deliberations regarding the naval assets they could contribute to a potential coalition. Measures under review include military escorts, minesweeping operations, and defensive protocols against potential Iranian strikes.

The proposed coalition will not operate as a NATO mission and is expected to include non-alliance members. While the initiative was originally designed for implementation following a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran, the timeline has been accelerated due to rhetoric from the incoming US administration.

On Tuesday, the US President-elect remarked that nations like Britain should “procure their own oil” if they face potential shortages caused by the Hormuz crisis, sharply criticizing allies for refusing direct involvement in the conflict with Tehran.

Tehran closed the strait in late February in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes. The waterway previously handled approximately 20% of global oil and gas transit; its closure has triggered a surge in energy prices and heightened fears of a global economic crisis.

European nations initially rebuffed a demand from the Trump administration last month to deploy naval forces to the strait, citing fears of being drawn into the broader war. Diplomats privately indicated a reluctance to resolve a crisis they believe was exacerbated by US policy. However, the severity of the energy disruption and repeated condemnations from the US President-elect have forced a strategic reassessment among NATO allies.

Starmer noted that the UK is “exhausting every diplomatic channel” to secure the reopening of the strait. “Following this meeting, we will bring our military planners together to discuss how to mobilize our capabilities,” he added.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister cautioned that any international operation to maintain the passage would be “complex and arduous.”

“It would be incorrect to assume that a de-escalation of the conflict will automatically result in the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” Starmer said. “I must be honest with the public: this will not be easy.”

The British leader further clarified that the primary obstacle for regional shipping is “safety and security of passage” rather than the availability of insurance.

Two officials briefed on the matter noted that forming a naval coalition is complicated by the disparate resources of participants. For instance, some nations have offered minesweepers but lack the frigates necessary to defend them.

A spokesperson for the Belgian Foreign Ministry compared the effort to the “coalition of the willing” established to monitor a potential ceasefire in Russia’s war against Kyiv. While Belgium is not among the 35 formal participants in the British-led initiative, the spokesperson stated the country remains ready to join should a ceasefire be reached.

“Everything will depend on the decision made by President Trump,” the spokesperson said. “The next phase of the process remains unclear.”