The United Kingdom has convened a telematics meeting with nearly 40 countries to analyze the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's blockade, in a meeting from which Spain has been left out and which has been organized apart from Donald Trump.
The initiative, led by the British Foreign Minister, Yvette Cooper, seeks to coordinate an international response to the closure of this strategic route, after the United States has opted to disengage from the direct management of the crisis in the area.
Spain's absence responds to its refusal to participate in the Iranian conflict, which has led to continuous tensions with Washington. One of the most recent cases has been the closure of military airspace by the Spanish government, making it impossible for the American army to use the bases of Rota (Cádiz) and Morón (Seville).
The Strait of Hormuz channels approximately one-fifth of the world's oil, which makes its blockade a pressure factor on energy markets and international trade.
According to the data presented at the meeting, about 2,000 vessels remain trapped in the area along with thousands of sailors, while traffic has been reduced to about 25 daily vessels, well below the usual nearly 150.
Cooper has warned of the global economic impact of the situation and has pointed out that “it is hitting global economic security”, citing World Bank estimates that point to an increase in food insecurity.
Among the measures proposed by the participating countries is the increase in diplomatic pressure through organizations such as the United Nations Organization (UN), with the aim of demanding from Iran the reopening of maritime traffic in the strait.
The joint statement also includes the possibility of adopting coordinated economic measures, including sanctions, if the blockade is prolonged. "We are working with the industry, insurers, and energy markets," Cooper explained at the beginning of the meeting.
Furthermore, the participating countries have agreed to collaborate with the International Maritime Organization to facilitate the release of trapped vessels and crews, as well as strengthen coordination with maritime operators and energy sector actors.
The British Government plans to hold a new meeting within a week, this time with military representatives, to study possible security strategies in the strait once a ceasefire occurs in the region.
For his part, the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, has rejected the option of a direct intervention in the area, in response to proposals that Trump offered him. “It is not realistic” to reopen the strait by force, he affirmed during a visit to South Korea, defending the need to coordinate any action with Tehran.
