India has officially confirmed that it has been invited to take part in a maritime initiative led by the United Kingdom and France to protect transit through the Strait of Hormuz, widely regarded as a critical global chokepoint. 

 

During a weekly media briefing in the capital, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the invitation. This invitation arrives as the international community intensifies efforts to ensure the security of one of the world’s most vital energy corridors, which facilitates nearly twenty per cent of the global oil trade. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi has been asked to contribute to a collaborative plan aimed at maintaining “uninterrupted navigation” through the strategic passage. 

 

In a related diplomatic push, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron held talks at the Élysee Palace. The two leaders are preparing to host a virtual summit with approximately 40 countries to address the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also slated to attend and has suggested that he wants US President Donald Trump to be included in the process.