The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan voiced their “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through” the Strait of Hormuz in a joint statement issued Thursday.
The nations provided no details about what they were prepared to offer, after repeated demands from President Trump that they and other countries deploy military forces to help reopen the vital shipping lane.
“We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” the statement said, adding a “call for an immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations.”
On Wednesday, CBS News’ Margaret Brennan reported that a team of military planners from the U.K. was working with the U.S. military on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.K. and other U.S. allies have been reluctant to join U.S. military operations during active combat operations against Iran, multiple officials told Brennan, adding that, after hostilities conclude, allies including the U.K. and Japan could consider sending assets such as mine detection equipment.Â
This issue may come up Thursday when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets with Mr. Trump at the White House. Takaichi has publicly indicated that Japan’s constitution would not permit the use of its self-defense forces to operate in an offensive operation.
The six nations that signed the joint statement released on Thursday condemned the “attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.”
