British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK is coordinating with allies to build a collective plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation. He warned the effort will be difficult but said reopening the strait is necessary to stabilise global oil markets. The plan includes European partners and seeks rapid multinational action to reduce economic fallout from shipping disruptions.
Starmer: UK Working With Allies to Reopen Strait of Hormuz to Stabilise Oil Markets
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to the media on the situation in the Middle East, at Downing Street in central London, Britain, March 16, 2026. BROOK MITCHELL/Pool via REUTERS
LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that the United Kingdom is coordinating with allies to develop a collective plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation across the vital Middle East waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s oil shipments pass. Disruptions there can push up global energy prices and ripple through international markets.
"Ultimately, we have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability in the (oil) market. That is not a simple task," Starmer told reporters, acknowledging the operational and diplomatic challenges involved.
He said Britain is working with "all of our allies, including our European partners," to assemble a viable, collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region "as quickly as possible" and help ease the economic fallout from any supply disruptions.
Starmer did not provide detailed operational timelines or list specific partner countries, but stressed the effort would require close multinational cooperation and careful planning to balance security objectives with regional sensitivities.
"So we're working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impact," he said.
Reporting by Sarah Young and Elizabeth Piper; writing by Alistair Smout; editing by Michael Holden.
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