Five European countries announce, together with Japan, that they are ready to contribute to securing the Strait of Hormuz
Five leading countries in Europe – France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Great Britain – announced on Thursday, in a joint statement with Japan, that they will take measures to stabilize the energy markets and said they are ready to join “adequate efforts” to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, reports Reuters and France Presse agencies, quoted by News.ro.
“We express our willingness to contribute to the appropriate efforts to ensure the safe passage (of ships) through the strait,” the statement said. “We welcome the commitment of the countries involved in the preparatory planning”, adds the joint statement.
The joint statement of the six countries, five of which are members of the G7, condemns Iran's attacks and calls on Tehran to stop its actions immediately. “We condemn in the strongest terms the recent attacks launched by Iran against unarmed merchant ships in the Gulf, the attacks against civilian infrastructure, especially oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.”
“We request an immediate and general moratorium on attacks against civilian infrastructure, especially oil and gas installations” in the Gulf, the six countries said in the joint statement, published after the Iranian attacks on gas installations at Ras Laffan in Qatar, the world's second largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
They also promise to work with certain energy-producing countries to increase production and stabilize markets. Welcoming the release of strategic oil reserves, the joint statement added: “We will take other measures to stabilize energy markets, including working with certain producing countries to increase production,” the statement said without elaborating.
Britain announced on Tuesday that it was working on a plan with some of its partners in Europe, the Gulf, as well as the United States, to restore maritime traffic in the strait.
The almost total paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz by Tehran, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas production normally transits, led to a strong increase in the price of hydrocarbons, with a global economic impact. The International Energy Agency (IEA), which represents oil-consuming countries, released 400 million barrels of its strategic crude reserves to calm markets and said on Monday it was ready to unlock more stocks.
In recent days, Iran has authorized the passage of several ships from countries it considers allies, while warning that it will block those from countries it considers hostile.
A crisis meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is being held over two days on Wednesday and Thursday in London with the stated aim of finding “practical measures” to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz, where 20,000 sailors are currently stranded on about 3,200 ships.
Also, the joint statement of the six countries comes after Donald Trump requested help to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, but was refused, which irritated the American president, who later announced that he no longer needed anyone's help.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, received at the White House on Thursday
On the other hand, the declaration also signed by Japan comes at a time when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is to be received by Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. The two will have a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, and afterward, Trump will host a dinner in Takaichi's honor in the State Lounge.
Trump could take advantage of the meeting with Takaichi to ask him for help in the war against Iran, putting it in a potentially delicate situation as Tokyo analyzes the level of support it can offer.
Trump harshly criticized allies for their timid support of the US-Israeli military campaign and said that the United States does not need help. However, he continues to push for more ships to clear mines and escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
Takaichi's long-planned visit to the White House is aimed at strengthening the decades-old economic and security partnership between Washington and its closest ally in East Asia.
Takaichi has tried to move Japan away from the pacifist constitution imposed by Washington after World War II, but given that war with Iran is unpopular in his country, it has so far not offered to help clear the Strait of Hormuz.
