External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addresses a press conference | Photo Credit: -

The Indian government on Friday confirmed that it has been invited to join the UK-France led initiative to secure transit through the world’s most critical enemy chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz).

Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said “Yes, India has got the invitation to join the initiative. The meeting is scheduled to start in a few hours. We will inform you on India’s role and will also inform you on what was discussed at the meeting.”

Besides, India welcomes the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire and supports all steps towards peace, he added.

France and the UK will co-chair a meeting in Paris on Friday along with around 40 other countries in a bid to restore safe and uninterrupted navigation through the SoH.

The US is not part of the Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative.

Since the US-Israel offensive against Iran, which began on February 28, the 33-km long critical water channel has been virtually closed for traffic, which has upended around 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas supply.

India is among the most impacted countries considering 30 per cent of its crude oil, more than 50 per cent of its natural gas and 60 per cent of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies transit the SoH.

Published on April 17, 2026