By Sunniva Rose and Damien McElroy

 

BRUSSELS, 01 April. - (ANA) - Belgium has announced it will join a coalition to ensure free passage through the Strait of Hormuz at the end of the Iran war.

 

It appears to be the first public declaration from a country joining a French-led initiative to bring together dozens of nations in a “day after” naval force. This would provide convoys and other patrols to restore confidence to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

 

“We are working together with France and all other willing partners to achieve this strategic goal once conditions in the region will allow for it, such as a ceasefire,” Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken said. “Freedom of navigation is essential for our security and economic stability.”

 

About 35 countries took part last week in what French authorities described as a “technical” meeting but the list of participants was not made public.

 

France stressed the mission would take place only “once the core of hostilities had sufficiently subsided”.

 

“This initiative is entirely separate from the approach taken by the United States of America and remains in a defensive posture,” a representative for the chief of staff of the French armed forces said.

 

About a fifth of the world’s oil usually moves through the shipping lanes of the strait each day and Iran has allowed a handful of vessels passage in the past week, operating a so-called Tehran Tollbooth, described as Iran's method of exerting control over entry to the waterway. Tehran has effectively set up a blockade in the strait.

 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a shipping, energy and insurance meeting at Downing Street on Monday.

 

Senior leaders from the sectors met government officials and military representatives “to discuss the conflict in Iran and the impact on the Strait of Hormuz”. It is believed Maj Gen Richard Cantrill, commander of UK Maritime Operations, talked through options in the strait and the wider Middle East.

 

Businesses are keen on a return to free navigation to reduce costs and avoid shortages.

 

Mr Starmer told executives there must be a “joint effort” to tackle the impact of the war in Iran, saying “the government can’t do it on its own”.

 

At an online G7 meeting, energy and finance ministers, alongside central bank governors, pledged to close the gap of oil output in the global market. A joint statement said “G7 central banks are strongly committed to maintaining price stability, and to ensuring the continued resilience of the financial system”. Participants also reaffirmed “the importance of secure and uninterrupted trade flows”.

 

The International Monetary Fund said on Monday the war in the Middle East is having an uneven impact on global economies but “all roads” lead to higher prices and slower economic growth.

 

US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s energy infrastructure if no deal is reached to end the war and making the strait immediately “open for business”.

 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised during a Middle East tour that his country's expertise could be tapped to open the Strait of Hormuz.

 

“We discussed it in detail,” he said. “We shared expertise on our Black Sea corridor and the way it operates.”   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/01 April 2026 - - -