Khaberni - The Guardian reported that Britain has offered to host an international security summit to develop a viable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and said that British military leaders have conducted discussions with their counterparts to address the practical aspects of securing the strait, following the rejection by Western countries of President Donald Trump's requests for deploying warships amidst escalating tension to this dangerous point.
The newspaper quoted an official in the British Ministry of Defense saying that a security conference concerning the Strait of Hormuz could possibly convene soon in London or at the naval headquarters in Portsmouth "with the aim of building the alliance and developing the momentum to enable us, as soon as the right conditions are available, to open a safe passage through the strait."
He added that "an additional military meeting for the chiefs of defense staff in the countries that signed a previous statement agreeing to make efforts to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz might invite other countries."
According to the British newspaper, the defense leaders' meeting will discuss how to open this vital navigational passage, which accounts for about 20% of the world's oil supplies, amid the Middle East crisis ignited by the United States and Israel.
It stated that the British Ministry of Defense has already sent military planners to the US Central Command to study options for oil tankers to cross the strait, which has been effectively closed due to Tehran's threats of retaliatory attacks.
"Disastrous Folly"
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated yesterday before the Liaison Committee in the House of Commons that there wouldn’t necessarily be a "quick and early end" to the conflict despite Trump's announcement of delaying strikes on Iranian power plants.
The United Kingdom and its allies are pressing for a rapid de-escalation amid growing concerns about the severe economic damage resulting from the closure of the strait. Oil prices and government borrowing costs have risen sharply, negatively impacting inflation.
Labour MP Matt Western, chair of the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy, mentioned that this conflict means that Trump’s presidency will be one of the "most reckless and costly" on the global economy.
He added that the "military folly, which have been disastrous committed by Trump and Netanyahu, is causing severe damage to the global economy and is burdening British consumers. Despite the intensive efforts by this government, we still heavily depend on oil and gas."
He also called on Western leaders to stick to their stance and urgently advocate for a de-escalation, stating that "reckless Trump has made a severe strategic mistake harming his allies and benefiting his adversaries," while China and Russia profit from the crisis.
It is noted that about 20% of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is the most congested oil shipping lane in the world. It is now nearly at a standstill, and as expected, energy prices have significantly increased, with gas prices doubling and oil prices surging.
