80 countries sign joint statement calling for reopening of Strait of Hormuz
A group of 80 countries signed a joint statement calling for shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz to be fully restored, presented by Bahrain's foreign minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani at a UN Security Council media stakeout on maritime security. The statement urges implementation of Security Council Resolution 2817, adopted on 11 March 2026, which condemns Iran's attacks against Gulf countries and Jordan and addresses threats to maritime navigation through the strait; the resolution was adopted with 13 votes in favour and two abstentions, from China and Russia. The signatories called for all vessels to use the strait safely and exercise their navigational rights under international law, and opposed the imposition of tolls or other restrictions on transit.
Why it matters: The statement bears directly on the briefing's maritime security theme, since disruption at the Strait of Hormuz and near Bab al-Mandeb affects trade and energy markets and the conditions under which shipping companies can return.