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On Wednesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the Western approach to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz will prioritize diplomacy over military intervention. This strategy has already caused frustration for President Trump, who is seeking international allies to help secure the vital shipping corridor.
Starmer stated firmly, “This is not our war. We will not be drawn into the conflict,” dismissing any immediate military involvement from the UK despite the increasing threats to global energy resources.
The UK is instead focusing on uniting global powers around a diplomatic-first approach.
Starmer has announced plans for a virtual summit aimed at coordinating international efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This initiative, engaging 35 nations, will concentrate on “diplomatic and political measures” to restore passage through the strait, with strategic discussions set to take place in the coming days.
Starmer made it clear that military planning to secure the strait will only commence once hostilities have ceased.
“We will evaluate all feasible diplomatic and political options… and only then will we bring in our military planners,” Starmer noted, cautioning that “This will not be easy.”
It comes after Trump raged against both Britain and France for their snubs of US efforts in the war over a series of Truth Social posts Tuesday night, blasting London for failing to get involved in the decapitation of Iran and Paris for refusing to let planes en route to Israel with military supplies “fly over French territory.”
“All of those countries that canât get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz … I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,” he said. “Youâll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. wonât be there to help you anymore, just like you werenât there for us.”
“Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” he added.
The next morning, he told Reuters in an interview that he was “absolutely without question” considering withdrawing the US from NATO over his frustration with the alliance.
Congress in 2023 passed a law requiring the president to receive approval from a two-third Senate super-majority to do so.
France, meanwhile, has also been hosting talks with counterparts interesting in “restoring of freedom of navigation in the Strait,” bringing together defense chiefs from 35 countries for a teleconference on March 26, according to a statement from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans.
“This initiative, decoupled from ongoing military operations in the region, is strictly defensive in nature,” the ministry said. “Its purpose is to organize the resumption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz after the cessation of hostilities.”
The ministry said the reopening can only happen “once the intensity of hostilities has sufficiently decreased” â but Paris has so far refused to publicly define the conditions necessary for such actions to begin.
It’s unclear if a cease-fire would be enough for participating countries to begin pitching in.
Trump on Wednesday said Tehran had asked the US for a cease-fire, but said that would not be acceptable until the strait is reopened.
“Iranâs New Regime President, much less Radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!” he said.
“We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”
The announcement came a day after Pakistan and China submitted a five-point proposal for a cease-fire that would see peace starts beginning immediately, a pledge to stick to the “primacy of the United Nations Charter,” an “immediate cessation of hostilities” and the security of shipping lanes and “non-military targets.”
