Italy Reaffirms Efforts To Restore Stability In Strait Of Hormuz 

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 (Bernama) -- Italy has expressed its readiness to join an international defensive coalition aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once the current conflict ends, said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

He said since the outbreak of hostilities between Iran and the United States (US), Italy has worked closely with its European partners, the G7 and multilateral organisations to push for a cessation of hostilities and the reopening of the strait.

“In the multinational mission that will be launched in the Strait of Hormuz, Italy could contribute to mine-clearing operations and to the safety of commercial navigation.

“The blockade is not merely a regional issue but a global shock that will impact energy security, industrial competitiveness and international economic balances,” Tajani said in an op-ed shared with Bernama by the Embassy of Italy in Kuala Lumpur.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic maritime hub for global trade, with around 20 per cent of global oil, a quarter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and essential raw materials passing through the waterway.

Although Italian exports grew by 3.3 per cent in 2025 despite the global trade slowdown, Tajani said rising energy prices and insecurity along trade routes had already begun to affect European households and businesses.

He also voiced concern over the impact of the disruption on fragile countries in Africa and the wider Mediterranean region.

With approximately 30 per cent of global fertiliser exports passing through the strait, Tajani warned that continued disruptions could reduce agricultural production, fuel inflation, and worsen crises such as the ongoing famine in Sudan.

In response to the crisis, he said Italy and Croatia had convened a meeting in early May with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and 30 countries from the Mediterranean, West Asia and the Balkans to launch the “Rome Coalition for Food Security and Access to Fertilisers”.

The forum aimed to identify immediate and concrete solutions to the crisis.

Tajani said while the Hormuz crisis reflects a broader conflict rooted in decades of tension involving the US, Israel and Iran, diplomacy remained the only viable path forward.

He also reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to working with international partners and support for the ongoing negotiations mediated by Pakistan to ensure diplomatic channels remain open.

“At the same time, Rome maintains a direct channel with Gulf regional partners, who are considered indispensable interlocutors for any lasting diplomatic solution and for the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait,” he said.

On broader stability in West Asia, Tajani said lasting peace could not be achieved without stability in Lebanon.

He noted that the Italian government supported US-mediated dialogue between Israel and Beirut and had offered to host direct talks between the parties.

“Italy is also working with Lebanon and the United States on initiatives to strengthen the capacity of Lebanese security forces, particularly in combating money laundering and illicit trafficking.

“Washington and Brussels increasingly look to Rome as a key actor in strengthening Beirut’s statehood, an issue I also addressed during my recent meeting at the Farnesina with the Lebanese Foreign Minister,” he said.

According to Tajani, Italy also continues to monitor developments in Gaza and the Palestinian Territories closely, while advocating a two-state solution, adding that Rome had recently welcomed 72 Palestinian students on university scholarships as an investment in the future Palestinian leadership.

-- BERNAMA