Britain and Allies Move to 'Secure' the Strait of Hormuz

The British Government has proposed the formation of a multinational task force and shared plans with the United States and other nations regarding traffic issues in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Axios on Tuesday (17 March), citing several sources.

The US Government wants Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada, Jordan, Japan, South Korea, and Gulf nations to join the coalition.

However, some nations have responded to the initiative with scepticism, whilst others have firmly rejected it, according to sources familiar with the matter. They added that the British draft has not yet been presented to all the nations the US requested to join. “The situation is chaotic. Many people are confused,” a European diplomat told Axios.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump stated that the United States does not need help from other countries to handle the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Simultaneously, he claimed that “many nations” have told him they are “making efforts” to help the US.

On 28 February, the US and Israel launched attacks against several targets in Iran, including Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East.

Escalation around the Iranian region has caused traffic disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which is a major route for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments from Persian Gulf nations to global markets. The blockade has also affected oil exports and production in the region.