The leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy held urgent phone discussions on Tuesday, March 11, 2026, focusing on the escalating Middle East crisis and the critical need to safeguard freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
A readout released by the British Prime Minister’s office detailed the conversation between Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The leaders emphasized the “vital importance” of ensuring unimpeded passage for commercial vessels through the strategic waterway, which handles approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day and roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade.
“They agreed to work closely together in the coming days in the face of Iranian threats,” the statement noted.
The call comes after Iran effectively closed or severely restricted the Strait of Hormuz around March 1, 2026, in response to the US-Israel joint military campaign against Iran that began on February 28. Those strikes have reportedly killed around 1,300 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and injured thousands more.
Iran has since launched retaliatory drone and missile barrages targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting U.S. military facilities, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.
Prime Minister Starmer also briefed his counterparts on the United Kingdom’s “ongoing defensive measures” in the region, which have included naval deployments and support for partners in the Gulf to protect shipping lanes and deter further escalation.
The leaders’ joint emphasis on freedom of navigation aligns with broader Western concerns over the economic fallout from any prolonged disruption to the strait. Global oil prices have remained volatile, fluctuating sharply in recent days amid fears of sustained blockages or attacks on tankers.
The coordinated stance from London, Berlin, and Rome signals growing European unity in response to the crisis, with a shared focus on de-escalation, protection of maritime trade routes, and support for regional stability while avoiding direct involvement in offensive operations.
Further diplomatic coordination among the three nations — and potentially with other EU and G7 partners — is expected in the coming days as the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve.
