The United Arab Emirates has told the U.S. and other Western allies that it is willing to participate in a multinational maritime taskforce aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The UAE is seeking to rally dozens of countries to form a “Hormuz Security Force” to protect shipping from Iranian attacks and escort vessels through the vital waterway.
The move comes as Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas, spiking energy prices and fuelling global inflation fears.
According to the sources in the article, Abu Dhabi plans to deploy its own navy as part of the effort. “The focus is on creating as broad an international force as possible,” one official said.
“It’s not about going to war with Iran. Iran went to war on the global economy, and people need to stand up,” the official added.
The UAE said it's also collaborating with Bahrain on a United Nations Security Council resolution to give the proposed taskforce an official mandate, although opposition from Russia and China could complicate the plan.
So far, Bahrain is the only other Gulf state openly backing the initiative, though the UAE hopes to secure support from Saudi Arabia and additional international partners.
Senior Emirati minister Sultan al-Jaber emphasised the economic stakes. “Iran holds Hormuz hostage. Every nation pays the ransom, at the gas pump, at the grocery store, at the pharmacy.”
While the U.S. has called for NATO allies to assist in securing the strait, many have yet to commit ships, with France indicating it will consider involvement only once hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran have ended.
The UAE, which has a relatively small but modern navy, is positioning itself at the forefront of an effort to ensure the free flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the country’s growing frustration with repeated Iranian attacks on its ports and shipping lanes.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that the administration was working to allow ships to transit the strait “as quickly as we can.”
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