LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Wednesday that the United Kingdom is prepared to take a leading role in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as international concerns mount over the vital waterway’s closure amid escalating tensions following attacks between Iran and Israel. The announcement came as U.S. President Donald Trump publicly pressured European allies to join the conflict and contribute to securing the Strait, stating they should “proceed receive your own oil” if they refused to participate in military action.
Starmer, speaking at a Downing Street press conference, explicitly stated the U.K. Would not join the U.S. And Israel in a war against Iran, reaffirming a commitment to strengthening relationships with European partners. “We’re prepared to take a sort of leadership role in that as the United Kingdom in relation to the Straits of Hormuz,” he said.
A gathering of approximately 35 nations will convene to assess diplomatic and political avenues for ensuring safe passage through the Strait, according to Starmer. Following this assessment, military planners will be tasked with developing strategies to secure the waterway once hostilities cease. A virtual meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will include representatives from several European countries, as well as Japan, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain – all signatories to a joint statement issued on March 19 regarding Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz, currently largely blocked by Iranian naval activity, is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, facilitating roughly 20% of the world’s oil transit. Trump’s remarks on Tuesday underscored growing frustration with European reluctance to directly engage in military operations, and signaled a potential shift in U.S. Security commitments in the region.
“What happens to the Strait… we’re not going to have anything to do with it,” Trump told reporters, adding that U.S. Military involvement would likely conclude within two to three weeks.
Starmer emphasized the U.K.’s unwavering commitment to the NATO alliance, responding to Trump’s repeated threats to withdraw the U.S. From the military organization. However, he reiterated the U.K.’s firm stance against direct participation in a U.S.-Israel war with Iran. “This is not our war. We will not be drawn into the conflict that is not in our national interest,” he stated, linking the government’s position to efforts to stabilize domestic energy prices.
The Prime Minister asserted that his government would act in the U.K.’s best interests “whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise,” a clear reference to Trump’s public criticisms.
Strengthening Ties with Europe
Starmer articulated a vision for a stronger U.K.-Europe partnership encompassing security, defense, economic cooperation, and climate change mitigation. He dismissed suggestions that this shift towards Europe was a consequence of strained relations with the U.S., arguing that closer ties with Europe would, in fact, bolster the U.K.-U.S. Relationship.
“We see increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path,” Starmer said, “the U.K.’s long-term interest requires a closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union.”
