India Joins 60 Nations In UK-led Talks To Reopen Strait of Hormuz - Details

India on Thursday participated in United Kingdom (UK) led talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic sea passage that is very crucial for the world's energy trade, especially for Asia and Europe. The development has come after Donald Trump, who is already not happy with NATO allies for not helping the United States in the war against Iran, told them to get their own oil from the Hormuz and deal with Tehran to end the Hormuz blockade all by themselves. India was among 60 nations who got together to discuss future course of action over Hormuz and how to secure safe passage.Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who represented India in the virtual meeting to discuss Strait of Hormuz, noted the importance of the principles of freedom of navigation

and unimpeded transit through international waterways.He emphasised the impact of the crisis on India’s energy security and the fact that India remains the only country to have lost mariners in attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf. Misri also underlined that the way out of the crisis consisted of de-escalation and a return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue among all concerned parties, MEA said.Earlier, informing that India has been invited by the UK to join the Hormuz talks, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The UK side has invited several countries, which also include India, for talks on the Strait of Hormuz. From our side, the Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is attending the meeting this evening."Jaiswal further said, "We are in touch with Iran and other countries there to see how best we can get unimpeded transit and safe transit for our ships, which are carrying products including LPG, LNG, and other products. Through this conversation that we have had over the last several days, we have had six Indian ships which have been able to safely cross the Strait of Hormuz, and we continue to be in touch with relevant parties."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c3twsOSQsA

Energy trade, including crude oil and natural gas, especially LPG to India, has been disrupted ever since Iran, in a strategic move to pressure the United States, closed the Hormuz, warning nations that any authorised passage in the region would be dealt with strongly, and they have indeed struck several vessels who tried to sail through without taking Iran into confidence. However, amid this, India, through its diplomatic outreach and friendly ties with Tehran, has been able to secure safe passage for six of its energy ships, while talks on bringing back other stuck vessels continue to advance.

UK Gets World Nations Together To Reopen Strait of Hormuz

As the Gulf and Middle East War enters second week, Britain accused Iran of holding the world's economy hostage as diplomats from more than 40 countries held talks on ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that has been choked off by the US-Israeli war against Iran.The US is not attending the virtual meeting, which comes after Trump made clear that he thinks securing the waterway, closed as a consequence of the US-Israeli war on Iran, is not America’s job. Trump has also disparaged America's European allies for failing to support the war and renewed his threats to pull the US out of NATO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxz9RLqZZXk

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the talks, which focus on political and diplomatic rather than military means, showed “the strength of our international determination" to reopen the strait.“We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage,” she said at the start of the meeting. Cooper said “unsustainable” spikes in oil and food prices were “hitting households and businesses in every corner of the world.”With inputs from AP