UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has called on the US to re-open the Strait of Hormuz ahead of his first official one-to-one meeting with his US counterpart Marco Rubio. He said allowing ships free passage through the Gulf waterway is “essential to ease cost-of-living pressures on British families” as he travelled to Washington.
The pair are also expected to discuss the Ukraine war and tackling “the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza”. Miliband was invited to the US capital by Rubio after they met on the sidelines of a foreign ministers' summit in the Philippines, where the former Labour leader made his debut as foreign secretary.
The White House was reported to be concerned about Prime Minister Andy Burnham's decision to hand Miliband the Foreign Office brief, given his previous criticism of US President Donald Trump as a racist and a misogynist. Trump is also a trenchant opponent of wind farms and supports the opening up North Sea oil and use of fossil fuels, whereas in his former role as UK energy secretary, Miliband championed net zero and renewables.
Burnham has signalled a shift in north sea oil policy, earning praise from the Oval Office, but the dynamic between Miliband and Rubio will be closely watched. Last month, Washington's top diplomat in London, Warren Stephens, said Miliband had been “wrong” in 2016 to call Mr Trump “a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper” and added “hopefully his views have changed”.
Speaking ahead of the talks, Miliband said: “The government is committed to nurturing our strong, enduring and essential alliance with the US.
“I am greatly looking forward to my second meeting with secretary of state Marco Rubio, in which we will discuss the ongoing work to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and secure a lasting ceasefire, which is essential to ease cost-of-living pressures on British families.”
The strategic sea route, which had been open before the US and Israel launched the war in February, has been a flashpoint in the Middle East conflict and disruption to trade has driven up fuel and food prices.
Miliband added: “We will also discuss how we can continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine against Russia's war – as well as the importance of addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and working towards a lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.”
In the face of erratic US support, the UK foreign secretary is set to stress that Ukraine's security is inseparable from European and transatlantic security and restate the UK's commitment to stand with Kyiv for as long as it takes.
Miliband will be taking the UK's seat on the World Bank board, so he will also meet its president Ajay Banga during his visit to discuss development, climate change and strengthening global resilience.
What else is on Miliband's agenda?
Miliband is using the trip to underline the UK's broader diplomatic priorities, including support for Ukraine, action on Gaza and engagement on global development and climate issues. He will also meet World Bank president Ajay Banga while taking the UK's seat on the World Bank board.
His discussions with Banga will focus on development, climate change and strengthening global resilience. The visit comes as the government seeks to maintain what Miliband described as the US alliance as “strong, enduring and essential”.
How is the politics context shaping the meeting?
The meeting is being closely watched because of the political and policy differences between the two men. Miliband's past criticism of Trump has drawn attention in Washington, while the contrast between the US president's support for fossil fuels and Miliband's previous backing of net zero and renewables adds another layer of tension.
At the same time, Burnham's shift in north sea oil policy has won approval from the Oval Office, creating a more complex backdrop for the talks. The comments from Warren Stephens last month further underlined the sensitivity around Miliband's earlier remarks about Trump.
Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter?
The Strait of Hormuz matters because it is a key strategic sea route and disruption there affects trade, fuel prices and food prices. Miliband said reopening it and securing a lasting ceasefire would help ease cost-of-living pressures on British families.
The waterway had been open before the US and Israel launched the war in February, but it has since become a flashpoint in the Middle East conflict. Continued disruption to shipping has added to economic pressure at home and heightened concern across the region.
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