British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that a virtual meeting chaired by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will "consider all sustainable diplomatic and political measures we can take to restore freedom of navigation, ensure the safety of captured ships and sailors, and continue the flow of vital goods." Iranian attacks on commercial vessels, along with threats of new attacks, have almost completely halted traffic in this strait that connects the Persian Gulf with the rest of the world's oceans, cutting off a critical route for global oil flow and sending oil prices soaring. The United States is not among the countries attending Thursday's meeting. Trump has stated that securing passage through this strait is not America's job and told American allies to "go get your own oil." No country so far appears willing to attempt to forcibly open the strait while fierce fighting rages and Iran can target vessels with anti-ship missiles, drones, assault craft, and mines. However, Starmer said on Wednesday that military planners from an unspecified number of countries will soon meet to work out a way to ensure safe navigation "once the fighting stops." Meanwhile, 35 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, have signed a statement demanding that Iran cease attempts to blockade the strait and committing to "contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage" through this maritime route. Today's meeting is seen as a first step, to be followed by "working meetings" of lower-level officials to negotiate the details. Starmer warned that restoring maritime traffic "will not be easy" and will require a "united front of military strength and diplomatic activity" in partnership with the maritime industry. The idea of international engagement recalls the international "coalition of the willing" that countries, with the leading roles of the United Kingdom and France, formed to guarantee Ukraine's security after a future ceasefire in that war. The coalition is, in part, an attempt to show the Donald Trump administration that Europe is ready to take on a greater share of responsibility for its own security. The urgency of strengthening the continent's defense capabilities is further underscored by Trump's repeated hints that the U.S. might withdraw from NATO.