James Skinner
James is the Founder & Chief Executive of
CANZUK International in Vancouver, Canada
In a display of CANZUK solidarity on the global stage, the United Kingdom has convened a high-level international summit involving all four CANZUK partners – Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK – alongside 31 other nations to address the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation through the trade corridor.
The virtual meeting, hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and chaired by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, brings together foreign ministers and senior officials to assess “all viable diplomatic and political measures” to end Iran’s partial blockade of the strait.
The waterway, which carries approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas supplies as well as a significant share of global fertiliser trade, has been severely disrupted, stranding around 1,000 ships and thousands of civilian seafarers while driving up energy prices worldwide.
The waterway, which carries approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas supplies as well as a significant share of global fertiliser trade, has been severely disrupted, stranding around 1,000 ships and thousands of civilian seafarers while driving up energy prices worldwide.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is representing Australia at the talks, with a federal government spokesperson stating: “We all want to see safe passage of vessels through the strait, a critical waterway that is being held hostage by the Iranian regime.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles have both emphasised the economic stakes for Australia and the country’s readiness to collaborate with the UK and France on reopening the route. Australia has already contributed to a UK-led joint statement condemning Iran’s actions and has assets such as the E7-A Wedgetail operating in the region to support maritime security.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is also participating, underscoring that “all countries involved should know Canada will not hesitate to help secure the strait once there is a ceasefire.”
New Zealand is also among the 35 participating nations, having joined the earlier joint leaders’ statement alongside its CANZUK partners.
Prime Minister Starmer described the summit as the next phase of efforts, committing participants to “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait”, while guaranteeing the safety of trapped ships and seafarers.
The talks explicitly exclude the United States but signal a united front among like-minded democracies focused on diplomatic solutions, with potential follow-on discussions involving military planners.
This coordinated CANZUK engagement highlights the natural alignment of the four nations on core issues of maritime security, open trade routes, and rules-based international order. As close allies with deep historical, cultural, and security ties – including long-standing Five Eyes intelligence cooperation – Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are once again demonstrating their capacity to act collectively on matters of global economic stability and defence.
CANZUK International welcomes this latest example of practical cooperation among our four nations. Such high-level diplomatic alignment not only addresses an immediate threat to global supply chains and household energy costs but also reinforces the case for deeper CANZUK integration in trade, mobility, and foreign policy coordination. In an increasingly uncertain world, the ability of CANZUK partners to speak and act with a common purpose strengthens each nation’s voice and delivers tangible benefits to their citizens.
We will continue to monitor developments from the summit and advocate for further steps that build on this momentum toward a more formal CANZUK partnership.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles have both emphasised the economic stakes for Australia and the country’s readiness to collaborate with the UK and France on reopening the route. Australia has already contributed to a UK-led joint statement condemning Iran’s actions and has assets such as the E7-A Wedgetail operating in the region to support maritime security.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is also participating, underscoring that “all countries involved should know Canada will not hesitate to help secure the strait once there is a ceasefire.”
New Zealand is also among the 35 participating nations, having joined the earlier joint leaders’ statement alongside its CANZUK partners.
Prime Minister Starmer described the summit as the next phase of efforts, committing participants to “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait”, while guaranteeing the safety of trapped ships and seafarers.
The talks explicitly exclude the United States but signal a united front among like-minded democracies focused on diplomatic solutions, with potential follow-on discussions involving military planners.
This coordinated CANZUK engagement highlights the natural alignment of the four nations on core issues of maritime security, open trade routes, and rules-based international order. As close allies with deep historical, cultural, and security ties – including long-standing Five Eyes intelligence cooperation – Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are once again demonstrating their capacity to act collectively on matters of global economic stability and defence.
CANZUK International welcomes this latest example of practical cooperation among our four nations. Such high-level diplomatic alignment not only addresses an immediate threat to global supply chains and household energy costs but also reinforces the case for deeper CANZUK integration in trade, mobility, and foreign policy coordination. In an increasingly uncertain world, the ability of CANZUK partners to speak and act with a common purpose strengthens each nation’s voice and delivers tangible benefits to their citizens.
We will continue to monitor developments from the summit and advocate for further steps that build on this momentum toward a more formal CANZUK partnership.
Heading photo: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service under Creative Commons License: Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal
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