India will participate in key international talks called by the UK to end the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with the foreign minister scheduled to attend a meeting later today, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
At a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said several countries, including India, had been invited amid growing concerns about maritime security in the region.
“The British side has invited several countries, including India as well, for talks on the Strait of Hormuz. For our part, the Foreign Secretary is attending the meeting this evening,” Jaiswal said at a press conference on Thursday.
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It comes after the UK brought together more than 40 countries amid rising tensions in West Asia and growing concerns about the safety of one of the world’s most important oil and gas transit routes. By the way, the United States will not participate in this meeting, which is scheduled to be held virtually.
President Trump had previously indicated that securing the vital oil route was not America’s responsibility, saying that countries that depend on it “should seize it and cherish it.”
Asked whether India is part of any multinational peace initiative in West Asia, Jaiswal explained that the participation focuses on ensuring maritime safety and energy security.
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He added: “We are in touch with Iran and other countries there to see how best we can provide safe and unhindered transit for our ships, which carry products including LPG, LNG and other products. Through this conversation that we have had over the past few days, six Indian ships have been able to safely cross the Strait of Hormuz, and we remain in touch with the parties concerned.”
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The exact number of participating countries is not yet known and will become clearer after the discussions end. However, confirmed countries on this list include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Romania, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, according to Reuters.
