British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on April 1 that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper would host a meeting this week aimed at building an international coalition to restore maritime security in the Persian Gulf, with military planners tasked with drawing up options for making the Strait of Hormuz "accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped."

The UK and Europe are particularly exposed to events in the region, with the Strait of Hormuz closure, as at least 20% of Britain's LNG imports come from Qatar, which stopped two weeks ago. British citizens in the Gulf region also number around 200,000, making the expatriate group the largest in countries including the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, which offer tax-free incentives to relocate. 

"I do have to level with people on this. This will not be easy," Starmer said at a Downing Street news conference on April 1.

The prime minister said he had spoken with business leaders in shipping, finance, insurance and energy supply earlier in the week, who were "clear" that safe passage through the strait was the "primary challenge" facing the global economy.

Starmer reiterated that "this is not our war" and that Britain would not be drawn into the conflict, saying direct involvement was "not in our national interest."

He argued that the most effective way to reduce the cost of living for British households was to de-escalate in the Middle East and reopen Hormuz.

"While we're working at pace for de-escalation and peace, it is now clear that the impact of this war will affect the future of our country," Starmer said, adding: "No matter how fierce this storm, we are well-placed to weather it, and we have a long-term plan to emerge from it a stronger and more secure nation."

The UK initiative follows a series of diplomatic efforts to address the Hormuz crisis as it continues to increase its military contracts with Arab monarchies. The British government announced vital air defences from the UK are being deployed to Arab monarchies to further support Persian Gulf partners from Iran’s aggressive missiles and drone attacks, which continue across the region. 

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

"Iran’s aggressive attacks continue to threaten our allies and interests in the Middle East. That’s why the UK has been flying defensive missions since day one of this conflict to protect British interests and allies – and today we’re delivering further support by extending our UK jets in Qatar and deploying extra air defence teams and systems to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait."

China and Pakistan issued a five-point peace plan on March 31, calling for the restoration of normal shipping through the strait. The UAE's energy minister warned on April 1 that the world "must not become hostage" to Iran's control of the waterway.

The strait normally handles around 20% of global oil shipments but has been largely closed since Iran imposed a blockade at the start of the war on February 28.

Oil prices stand at around $115 a barrel, up nearly 60% since the conflict began. Iran's parliament approved plans on March 31 to impose tolls on vessels transiting the chokepoint and to ban US and Israeli ships.