UK invites India to talks on Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to represent India at discussions.
Nearly 40 countries to explore diplomatic and security measures.
Trump criticises allies, urges them to act independently on crisis.
India Joins UK's 40-Nation Talks on Hormuz Amid Escalating West Asia Crisis
UK said that the meeting will assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that could be taken to "restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and resume the movement of vital commodities"
Summary
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The United Kingdom has invited India to participate in discussions on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed today.
While attending the weekly briefing, he added that the Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will attend the meeting.
“The UK side has invited several countries, which also include India, for talks on the Strait of Hormuz. From our side, the Foreign Secretary is attending the meeting this evening,” Jaiswal said.
Earlier, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to bring nearly 40 countries amid escalating tensions in West Asia and growing concerns over the safety of one of the world’s most critical oil and gas transit routes.
Starmer said that the meeting will assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that could be taken to "restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and resume the movement of vital commodities".
He said that post the meeting, they will also convene military planners to look at how to marshal their our capabilities and make the strait accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped.
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Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands are among those to have signed it. Notably, the US will not be participating in this meeting, set to happen virtually.
Trump's Criticism
The UK PM's comments came after US President Donald Trump criticised his allies for not backing the US during its war with Iran. He told the countries affected by the Hormuz fuel crisis to either buy American or send their own forces to force the strait open — warning that Washington would no longer be available to do the hard work on their behalf.
Trump singled out Britain in particular. "All of those countries that can't get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you," Trump wrote. His gave two suggestions: buy oil from the United States, or "build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT."
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The closure of Hormuz choking one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies and triggering energy security concerns across the globe.