More than 40 nations joined a virtual summit on 17 April 2026 co-hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, with the aim of coordinating a multinational plan to safeguard shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting was announced earlier in the week and was held against the backdrop of a seven-week disruption to one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
Why the summit was convened
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been largely blocked since 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran under Operation Epic Fury. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and US-allied Gulf states, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued warnings forbidding passage through the strait. By mid-March, tanker traffic had dropped by roughly 70%, and the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) office had recorded 16 attacks on shipping in the Persian Gulf.
Before the war, approximately 25% of the world's seaborne oil trade and 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas passed through the strait. The disruption has forced major container lines — including Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd — to suspend Red Sea and Gulf operations and reroute traffic around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to transit times.
What Starmer said
Announcing the summit, Starmer said it would "advance work on a co-ordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard shipping when the conflict ends." In a post on X on 13 April, he wrote that "the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is deeply damaging. Getting global shipping moving is vital to ease cost of living pressures."
Addressing the Commons, Starmer said: "As the Middle East conflict shows, once more, the world in which we live has utterly changed. It is more volatile and insecure than at any period in my lifetime, and we must rise to meet it calmly but with strength."
The road to the summit
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| 28 February 2026 | US-Israel strikes on Iran; strait effectively closed |
| 5 April | Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agree to work jointly on reopening |
| 9 April | UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper rejects the idea of Iran charging ship tolls |
| 10 April | Starmer discusses diplomatic and military options with President Trump |
| 13 April | UK-France joint announcement of the 17 April summit |
| 17 April | Paris Hormuz Summit convenes more than 40 nations |
The tolls question
A key point of contention is whether Iran can legally charge tolls for passage through the strait. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that "under international law, transit through waterways like the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and free of charge. Any pay-for-passage scheme will set a dangerous precedent for global maritime routes."
Macron said that securing the strait needed to be handled by a neutral and independent party, rather than any single combatant power. Starmer added simply that the strait "should be reopened immediately with no tolls and no restrictions."
Economic stakes for the UK
While the UK does not directly import the bulk of its road fuel from the Gulf, oil trades on a global market. The closure has already contributed to record monthly increases in petrol and diesel prices at UK forecourts in March 2026, and has fed through into broader inflation. HM Treasury is understood to have been modelling scenarios under which Brent crude could remain elevated through the third quarter.
For UK businesses, particularly those in road haulage, manufacturing and food distribution, a sustained disruption would feed into operating margins. The wider services economy is also exposed, with higher fuel and energy prices likely to dampen consumer discretionary spending.
What the summit aims to deliver
According to briefing from both Downing Street and the Élysée, the summit's working agenda covers four areas: a coordinated insurance underwriting facility for transits, a shared maritime intelligence platform, convoy arrangements for high-value cargos, and a diplomatic framework for post-ceasefire reopening. The participating nations span NATO members, Gulf states, Asian shipping nations and key oil importers.
Frequently asked questions
The information in this article is for general guidance only and does not constitute political, legal or financial advice. Readers should consult official government and market sources for definitive information.
How much of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz?
Before the current crisis, approximately 25% of the world's seaborne crude oil trade and 20% of global LNG transited through the strait. In 2024, roughly 84% of those shipments were destined for Asian markets.
Can shipping be routed around the strait?
There is limited pipeline capacity for Saudi and UAE oil to reach the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea respectively, but the combined capacity is a fraction of normal Gulf export volumes. There is no practical maritime alternative.
What does this mean for UK drivers?
The RAC reported that petrol and diesel posted their biggest monthly increases on record in March 2026. Any sustained reopening of the strait should, over time, reduce pressure on pump prices, though refining margins and wholesale spreads would take longer to normalise.
Which countries are part of the 40-nation coalition?
The full participant list has not been published, but confirmed attendees include the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, India and several Gulf Cooperation Council members, alongside representatives of the European Union.
