Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan have stated that their collaborative efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are currently in the “preparatory planning” phase and emphasized the importance of adhering to international law in the Gulf.
The coalition of Western nations expressed their readiness to support initiatives aimed at ensuring safe passage through the Straits. This joint statement, while carefully crafted to minimize commitment, marks a significant shift following a week in which the leaders of these countries overlooked U.S. calls to prioritize their interests and uphold freedom of navigation in this crucial waterway.
Moreover, the statement comes amid mounting criticism of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership, with President Trump directly accusing him of indecisiveness and of not adequately supporting his nation’s interests or respecting allies. Coincidentally, this occurred just before Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s scheduled meeting with President Trump in Washington, a meeting anticipated to be “challenging” for Japan due to its reluctance to follow Trump’s requests for help.
The statement raises questions about whether these six countries might take tangible action, but it clearly indicates they are still in the planning stage to make “appropriate efforts” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz eventually. There was no mention of specific timelines, deployment strategies, or the extent of commitment involved.
Much of the statement focused on defending international law. While only Iran was specifically condemned, the wording also hinted at Iranian demands for the U.S. and Israel to refrain from targeting civilian sites like “oil and gas facilities.” This insinuated criticism was notable given that the U.S. had previously characterized such actions as unauthorized, occurring just hours after an attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field.
In their statement regarding Iran, the coalition said:
…We strongly condemn the recent Iranian assaults on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf and on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities, as well as the de facto blockage of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces. We urge Iran to halt its threats immediately, which include mine-laying, drone, and missile attacks, aimed at obstructing commercial shipping in the Strait.
They urged Iran to comply with United Nations Security Council directives and consistently referenced international law in their statements. They remarked:
We call for an immediate and comprehensive pause on assaults targeting civilian infrastructure, such as oil and gas facilities. We urge all nations to adhere to international law and uphold the core principles of global stability and security.
International law is a key concern for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, a former human rights attorney. He has emphasized his opposition to getting involved in maintaining vital sea routes unless it can be clearly shown that such actions comply with international law. As discussed this week, Lord Keir conveyed to the public that the government is not yet at a “decision stage” regarding the potential use of the Royal Navy to ensure trade, expressing doubts about the existence of an “adequate and considered plan” or a solid “legal basis” for such actions.
