UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday said the UK would not be dragged into the war involving Iran, the US and Israel, as he announced that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host leaders from at least 35 countries to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The Prime Minister did not directly answer questions on whether citizens should change their daily habits, after journalists referred to his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese urging people to use public transport where possible.
Starmer sought to reassure the public, saying the UK is “well placed to weather" the “storm" triggered by the conflict, which has led to a surge in energy prices as the Strait of Hormuz remains choked.
“It is now clear the impact of this war will affect the future of our country. So today I want to reassure the British people: no matter how fierce this storm, we are well placed to weather it," he said.
Calling the Strait of Hormuz a vital global energy route, Starmer said the UK will host a meeting this week with around 35 countries to discuss ways to reopen it.
Leaders at the meeting will “assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and resume the movement of vital commodities", he said.
He added that de-escalation in West Asia may not automatically lead to the reopening of the strait.
Starmer also said it is “increasingly clear" that the UK’s long-term national interest requires closer cooperation with European allies, while reaffirming support for NATO.
“It has kept us safe for many decades, and we are fully committed to NATO," he said, after US President Donald Trump described the alliance as a “paper tiger" in remarks to the Telegraph.
