US urges UK to host summit on reopening Strait of Hormuz

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has pressed his British counterpart, Wes Streeting, for the UK to host an international summit on protecting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, as pressure mounts on President Donald Trump to reopen the critical shipping lane.

Hegseth and Streeting discussed the potential gathering during a phone call on July 24, according to sources familiar with the private deliberations who spoke on condition of anonymity, Bloomberg reports

Under the proposal, the US wants the UK to serve as the host nation, with Hegseth planning to attend in person. However, no final decision on the summit has been made.

The initiative comes as Trump administration officials repeatedly call on international partners—particularly US allies—to help restore passage through the vital global waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz was initially closed shortly after the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran in late February. While brief lulls occurred, the passage has been shut down again in recent weeks following renewed attacks. Tehran has effectively blocked the route by conducting repeated strikes on passing ships, causing severe turmoil in global energy markets.

Despite Washington's push for collective action, many nations remain reluctant to participate, fearing that involvement could entangle them in a broader conflict they have actively sought to avoid.

The UK and other European nations have maintained that they will only deploy naval forces to the Strait to conduct mine-clearing operations after a lasting ceasefire between the warring parties has been established.

By Sabina Mammadli