More Countries Say They Back Reopening of Strait of Hormuz

The strait has been effectively shut down since the conflict began on Feb. 28.

A map shows the Strait of Hormuz. Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters File Photo

The number of countries that now back reopening the Strait of Hormuz has increased following calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for NATO to help secure the key waterway amid the three-week-long war in Iran.

Signaling their readiness in a joint statement on Friday were the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Romania, Bahrain, and Lithuania.