UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discusses new alliance-building on April 1, 2026.
April 1, 2026—In another sign of strained relations between the United States and its partners and allies, a 35-member meeting taking place Thursday in the United Kingdom will take place without U.S. participation.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced today he is convening a meeting restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after the conflict.
The meeting comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to pull out of the NATO alliance. It also comes as G7 foreign ministers condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure and a reopening of global trade routes.
Who’s Attending the London Coalition?
At least 35 countries are scheduled to attend the meeting. Many of them signed onto a March 19 joint statement regarding the concept of freedom of navigation, the escalating conflict, and the Strait of Hormuz.
Europe: United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Bulgaria, and others.
Asia-Pacific: Japan, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand.
Americas: Canada.
Middle East & Africa: United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigeria.
It is not the first time Europe led a global mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz—a key chokepoint of global trade. In 2020, European countries led a naval mission along with South Korea to secure navigation.
Britain Shifts East to Europe
For Britain’s part, it represents a new era of building ties without Washington. It is a shift away from prioritizing Transatlantic ties. While the focus is on renewing ties with Europe—many of which fractured during Brexit, it opens the door to new diplomatic possibilities.
In his press conference, Starmer urged deescalation in the US-Israel-Iran war and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“To that end, we are exploring each and every diplomatic avenue that is available to us,” Starmer said, adding that his guide is “the British national interest.”
In a written statement, Starmer reiterated that he intends to keep Britain out of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war.
“I’ve been clear since the beginning: this is not our war. We are not getting dragged into it, whatever pressure comes my way. I made that decision because it’s the right one for the national interest,” Starmer said.
Starmer said that Britain hasn’t been focused on its nation since the 2008 global financial crisis. He suggested that from now on, Britain would need to “stand up to this volatile world” and that means strengthening partnerships with allies in Europe.
Patti Mohr is a U.S.-based journalist. She writes about global diplomacy, economics, and infringements on individual freedom. Patti is the founder of the Global Economic Report. Her goal is to elevate journalistic principles and share the pursuit of truth in concert with others.
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