Tuesday, March, 17 2026 - 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 emphasized 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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