Portugal has joined a group of 30 countries ‘ready to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran since the start of the war’, the foreign ministry has confirmed today.
But the form in which the group appears to be helping is not exactly energetic.
Lusa explains that Portugal has “signed a text” co-signed by the other 29, saying they are ready to “contribute to the efforts to ensure safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement, initially published by the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan last week, says that “maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries”, calling on all states to respect international law and defend the “fundamental principles of global prosperity and security”.
According to the British government website, besides Portugal, the declaration has now also been signed by Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Croatia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Panama and North Macedonia, joining Australia, Canada, South Korea, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Finland, Norway, New Zealand, Czechia, Romania, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.
In the statement, the countries condemn Iran’s recent attacks on commercial ships, oil and gas energy infrastructure and the “de facto closure” of the Strait of Hormuz. They demand that Tehran “immediately stop its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the strait to commercial navigation”.
The signatory countries stress that “interference with international navigation and the disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security” and call for an “immediate and comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities”.
The declaration was published hours after Qatar’s state-owned energy company confirmed “considerable damage” to the Ras Laffan gas complex caused by Iranian missile attacks last Thursday.
How exactly it is going to “help reopen the Strait of Hormuz” is unclear. It is an eye-catching headline, nonetheless – and the unrevealing text is being repeated by all national news media.
Meantime, Portugal’s stance in this war is open to a degree of question: it has repeatedly said that it will not get involved; will not send troops for any reason whatsoever – but it continues to allow the United States to use the Azorean air base of Lajes as a stop off point for some of the most lethal weaponry available.
Source material: LUSA
