Jakarta –
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed the “urgent need” to reopen Strait of Hormuz amidst the escalating conflict in the Middle East. On that basis, he held a virtual emergency meeting with around 40 countries to discuss joint steps to protect the world’s oil routes.
Cooper said Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz had hit global economic security. The strait has been closed since the US-Israel war against Iran began on February 28. This has an impact on the global supply of important commodities including oil, liquefied natural gas and fertilizer, causing a sharp increase in energy prices.
“The urgent need to restore freedom of navigation for international shipping, and the strength of our international resolve to see the Strait reopened,” said Cooper opening the meeting reported by AFP, Thursday (2/4/2026).
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A total of 37 countries have signed a joint statement stating their readiness to contribute to maintaining the security of these shipping lanes. Countries such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands are included.
However, a number of large countries such as the United States, China and most Middle Eastern countries have not joined the statement.
Cooper accused Iran of hijacking international shipping lanes and holding the global economy hostage. He said this forum would focus on mobilizing diplomatic and economic pressure to ensure the safe and sustainable opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve seen Iran hijack international shipping lanes to hold the global economy hostage,” Cooper added.
A French Foreign Ministry spokesman said securing the Strait of Hormuz “can only be carried out after the intensive phase of bombing ends”.
French President Emmanuel Macron, on a visit to South Korea, said that a military operation to liberate the Strait of Hormuz was “unrealistic”, while deploring Trump’s daily varying statements about Iran and NATO’s war.
“There are those who advocate the liberation of the Strait of Hormuz by force through military operations, a position sometimes expressed by the United States,” Macron said.
“I would say sometimes because it varies, it’s not an option we would ever choose and we consider it unrealistic,” he said.
(eva/wnv)
