LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed Monday the UK is coordinating with European partners and allies on a collective strategy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, resisting explicit demands from US President Donald Trump to deploy Royal Navy warships to the blockaded waterway.
The diplomatic maneuvering follows a surge in international oil prices past $100 a barrel and escalating geopolitical tension over the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed to maintain the transit blockade, which typically facilitates 20% of the globe’s daily oil shipments, as a strategy of maximum economic pressure.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Starmer stated the UK remains committed to restoring freedom of navigation through a “viable collective plan” without being drawn into a “wider war.” Over 92,000 British citizens have recently been evacuated from the Middle East.
Instead of traditional naval destroyers, the UK Ministry of Defence is evaluating the deployment of British-built “Octopus” interceptors. The advanced mine-hunting drones, originally designed for use in Ukraine, would be utilized to clear the channel safely.
The announcement follows a Sunday evening telephone call between Starmer and Trump regarding the global shipping disruption. During the discussion, Starmer offered condolences for American service personnel killed in the ongoing conflict.
The US-UK relationship has faced recent strain, with Trump previously criticizing the British government for denying US bombers access to UK military bases for initial airstrikes against Iran. However, facing mounting global economic pressure, the US President posted on his Truth Social platform over the weekend, appealing for a multinational naval coalition including the UK, France, Japan, South Korea, and China to forcefully reopen the strait.
The maritime bottleneck has triggered significant domestic economic strain across Europe. In response, Starmer unveiled a £53 million emergency support package directed specifically at vulnerable UK households reliant on heating oil. The government also issued legal directives requiring energy providers to pass wholesale savings directly to consumers.
Expanding diplomatic outreach regarding the economic fallout, Starmer also held separate discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.