ALSO READ | India will participate in key international talks on the Strait of Hormuz, with Foreign Secretary set to attend a meeting convened by the United Kingdom later today. Confirming the development, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said multiple countries, including India, have been invited amid rising concerns over maritime security in the region.
“The UK side has invited several countries, which also include India, for talks on the Strait of Hormuz. From our side, the Foreign Secretary is attending the meeting this evening,” Jaiswal said in a press briefing on Thursday.
The exact number of participating countries is not yet known and will become clearer after the discussions conclude. “The Foreign Secretary is attending the meeting. I dont know the number of countries who are attending it. Post-meeting we will get a sense of how many countries have joined,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether India is part of any multinational peace initiative in West Asia, Jaiswal clarified that the engagement is focused on ensuring maritime safety and energy security. He said India is in touch with Iran and other countries in the region to secure unimpeded transit for its vessels carrying key supplies such as LPG and LNG.
“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,” he added.
This comes after the UK brought together over 30 countries amid escalating tensions in West Asia and growing concerns over the safety of one of the world’s most critical oil and gas transit routes. A coalition of 35 countries has issued a joint statement urging Iran to stop blocking the Strait of Hormuz and reaffirming support for safe passage through the vital global oil route.
Confirmed countries in this list include the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as per Reuters.