India Joins UK-Hosted Talks on Strait of Hormuz Security Amid Regional Tensions
NEW DELHI: India has confirmed its participation in critical discussions hosted by the United Kingdom concerning the unimpeded transit and security of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday that India’s Foreign Secretary would attend the high-level meeting, underscoring New Delhi’s commitment to maritime safety in the vital global waterway.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed India’s involvement, stating on X, “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 further emphasized India’s proactive diplomatic efforts, adding, “We are in touch with Iran and other countries there to see how best we can get unimpeded transit and safe transit for our ships, which are carrying products including LPG, LNG and other products.” He highlighted recent successes, noting, “Through this conversation that we have had over the last several days, we have had six Indian ships which have been able to safely cross the Strait of Hormuz, and we continue to be in touch with relevant parties.”
The UK-led initiative follows an announcement earlier this week by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He revealed plans to host a meeting of approximately 35 nations to address the pressing issues surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at Downing Street, Starmer outlined the meeting’s objective: to “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.”
The discussions, to be hosted by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, aim to forge a unified international stance. Cooper’s objective is to bring participating countries together to “push as one for maritime security across the Gulf,” signaling a concerted effort to stabilize a region critical for global energy supplies and trade routes.
India’s presence at these talks signifies its significant stake in maintaining stable and secure maritime routes, particularly for its energy imports and trade, reinforcing its role as a responsible global maritime actor.
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