20 Countries Ready to Help Ensure Shipping Security in the Strait of Hormuz

JAKARTA - The British government stated that there are currently 20 countries that have expressed their desire to contribute to ensuring the safety of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict.

Previously, the first six countries, namely the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan, issued a joint statement regarding this matter.

"We express our readiness to contribute to the right steps to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. We welcome the commitment of the nations involved in the preparation plan," according to a joint statement reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Saturday, March 21.

The six countries stressed that disruptions to international shipping and global energy supply chains "pose a threat to global peace and security".

The countries also called for a "comprehensive and immediate moratorium" to be implemented to end attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations.

Then on Saturday, the statement was updated by adding 14 new countries that expressed their willingness to join in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

The new countries include Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

Previously on February 28, the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, including Tehran, causing infrastructure damage and casualties.

Iran then carried out retaliatory attacks against Israeli territory and US military bases throughout the Middle East.

As a result of the tension, shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil and LPG supplies from the Gulf region to global markets, stopped completely. As a result, many countries experienced an increase in fuel prices.