Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said Britain is working with international partners to develop a plan to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but stressed that the effort will not involve the NATO military alliance.
Speaking during a press conference at 10 Downing Street, Starmer said the situation in the crucial oil transport corridor had been discussed with Donald Trump. The waterway, which carries a significant share of the world’s oil shipments, has effectively been closed by Iran amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Starmer said the UK and its partners are working to restore safe passage through the strait.
He said: “We’re working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impacts.”
However, the British prime minister made it clear that the mission would not be carried out under NATO command. “Let me be clear, that won’t be and it’s never been envisioned to be a NATO mission,” Starmer said.
Instead, he explained that the initiative would involve a coalition of willing partners. “That’ll have to be an alliance of partners, which is why we’re working with partners, both in Europe, in the Gulf, and with the US,” he added.
His remarks came after Trump warned that NATO could face serious consequences if U.S. allies fail to help secure the vital shipping route. Trump said: “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there.”
Starmer also emphasised that Britain intends to avoid being drawn deeper into the broader conflict. He said the UK is “taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies,” but stressed that Britain “will not be drawn into the wider war.”
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