London, April 10, 2026: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday that he discussed military capabilities and the logistics of moving vessels through the Strait of Hormuz during a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump a day earlier.
Speaking during his visit to the Gulf, Starmer highlighted the importance of ensuring maritime security amid rising regional tensions.
“We’ve been pulling together a coalition of countries … working on a political, diplomatic plan, but also looking at military capabilities and … the logistics of actually moving vessels through the Strait,” he said.
“That was the focus of the discussion last night — reflection on what I’ve been discussing here, but also that focus on a practical plan in relation to navigation through the Strait,” he added. However, the British premier did not provide further details regarding the proposed measures.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, through which a significant share of global oil supplies passes. Any disruption in the waterway can have far-reaching implications for international energy markets and global trade.
When asked whether he had raised U.S. threats of withdrawing from North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Starmer did not respond directly but underscored the alliance’s enduring importance.
“NATO is a defensive alliance which, for decades, has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been,” he said, emphasizing that the transatlantic partnership remains vital for both the United States and Europe.
The remarks come amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, prompting coordinated diplomatic and security efforts among Western allies to safeguard critical maritime routes and maintain regional stability.
