JAKARTA - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened without toll fees and without discriminatory restrictions. He considered freedom of navigation on the route to be important for the world economy.
Meloni made the statement while speaking at the Europe-Gulf Forum in Costa Navarino, southern Greece, Saturday, as reported by Anadolu via the Philippine News Agency, quoted Sunday, May 17.
"The first is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, without tolls or discriminatory restrictions, because prosperity not only in the Mediterranean and Gulf regions, but the whole world, depends on freedom of navigation," Meloni said.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's important shipping routes. If this route is disrupted, the impact can spread to trade, energy supply, transportation costs, and commodity prices in many countries.
For countries that rely on energy imports and maritime logistics, disruptions in Hormuz are not a distant issue. The narrow waterway in the Gulf region can determine the smoothness or cost of world shipments.
Meloni said Italy was ready to take on a role to maintain maritime safety if the situation allowed. He said the EU's experience in the Aspides and Atalanta missions in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean could be a foothold.
"Italy is ready to do its part to contribute, as soon as the conditions are right, to navigation safety, based on what has been done in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean through the Aspides and Atalanta missions," he said.
Meloni also alluded to Iran. He stressed that Iran should not be allowed to have nuclear weapons because it could threaten its neighbors.
With Hormuz's position as an important shipping lane, Meloni's call is not only aimed at the Gulf region. If the strait is closed or subject to discriminatory restrictions, the flow of world goods and energy could be disrupted.
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