The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has told allies it is prepared to join a multinational maritime task force aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz as efforts intensify to restore shipping through the critical Gulf waterway.
According to reporting by the Financial Times, the UAE informed the United States and other Western partners it would participate in the initiative, with two sources saying Abu Dhabi is prepared to deploy its navy as part of the effort.
“The focus is on creating as broad an international force as possible,” one person familiar with the discussions 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 proposal comes as maritime traffic through the strait has sharply declined following Iranian attacks during the ongoing conflict. The waterway, which normally carries about 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies, has seen severe disruption, raising concerns over energy prices and global supply chains.
