Spain remains outside 35-country summit convened by the UK over Strait of Hormuz talks

Spain has been left out of the international summit convened by the British government to address the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz - one of the planet's main energy corridors. At the moment, it remains unclear whether Spain did not receive an invitation or decided to decline it.

The meeting on Thursday will bring together representatives from 35 countries to discuss restoring freedom of navigation in a critical maritime shipping lane. According to sources, the meeting will be held virtually. Foreign Secretary of the UK Yvette Cooper is coordinating it, as part of joint efforts led by the UK and France to reopen the passage blocked by Iran.

In a statement, Britain's PM Keir Starmer said that the meeting aims to "assess all viable diplomatic and political measures (...) to restore freedom of navigation, ensure the safety of the trapped ships and seafarers and resume the movement of essential raw materials".

Starmer stated that the meeting will lead to convening "military planners to discuss how to mobilise" capacity and "make the strait accessible and safe once the fighting has ceased".

The summit's composition largely reflects the countries that signed the joint statement issued on 19 March by a broad international coalition condemning Iran's attacks on unarmed commercial vessels and energy infrastructure in the Gulf. In that document, the signatories warned that the disruption of supply chains and interference with international navigation constitute "a threat to international peace and security", while also expressing their willingness to contribute to efforts aimed at ensuring safe passage through the strait.

Among the countries that endorsed that declaration were the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japa and Canada, in addition to a long list of European, Asian and Middle Eastern partners that joined later, such as South Korea, Australia, the UAE and Nigeria. Spain, however, is not among the signatories.

The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, has intensified following attacks launched in late February as part of the conflict between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition. This has resulted in a closure of the maritime passage by Iranian forces. An estimated 1,000 ships are currently stranded in the area, while traffic has been drastically reduced, with just over 100 vessels managing to cross the strait since the start of hostilities - the equivalent to a single day's traffic under normal conditions.

Starmer acknowledges the complexity of reopening the strait, noting that even in the event of a cessation of hostilities, ensuring the safety of maritime traffic would be a lengthy process. "It won't be easy," the Prime Minister stated, stressing the need for a coordinated response that combines diplomatic tools, military capabilities and cooperation with the private sector, particularly shipping and energy companies.

The summit will also be held without the direct participation of the US due to growing divergence between Washington and its European allies. Foreign Ministry sources told ABC that Spain's position of "not doing anything that contributes to the current war remains unchanged". "We advocate for de-escalation, dialogue and respect for international law," they stated.