NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that a 22-nation group—mostly NATO members, along with Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE, and Bahrain—is coming together to implement the vision of ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains free and open as soon as possible.
He added that earlier this week, he spoke with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, which helped advance the plan among the 22 countries. While he did not provide further details, he emphasized that the UK, under Starmer’s leadership, is playing a leading role in coordinating the effort.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK) stated on March 23, “Our government has reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to international efforts to ensure safe and free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by joining the Joint Statement on the Strait of Hormuz. We will continue to work closely with the international community, including participating countries, to help restore global maritime logistics as soon as possible.”
It also added that “specific measures for contribution can be developed through consultations among relevant countries, depending on each country’s circumstances and conditions, if necessary.”
Earlier, on March 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined a joint statement led by seven countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada. The statement strongly condemned, in the strongest possible terms, Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as attacks on unarmed commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure such as oil and gas facilities.
