Germany, Seven Countries Reject Any Disruption of Navigation Through Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb Straits

Berlin, September 23, 2026 : Germany and seven other countries have declared that any disruption to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — whether through the use of force, threats, or the imposition of unlawful tolls or transit conditions — is unacceptable and poses a threat to global security and prosperity, particularly for the world's most vulnerable populations.

The declaration was issued by the German Federal Foreign Office following the second meeting of foreign ministers and senior representatives from European and Indo-Pacific partner countries, held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting brought together representatives from Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), noting that the strategic environment has grown increasingly volatile and fragmented since their previous meeting in September 2025.

They emphasized that their cooperation is grounded in shared democratic values, the rule of law, human rights, and international law, stressing that greater cohesion among them contributes to peace, stability, sustainability, and prosperity across both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. The participants also called on UN member states to support and contribute to these efforts.

The group pledged to uphold and strengthen the rules-based multilateral order anchored in international law and the UN Charter, including international judicial institutions, while continuing to pursue UN reform aimed at enhancing the organization's effectiveness and resilience.

They further underscored the close interconnection between security and prosperity across Europe and the Indo-Pacific, pledging to deepen cooperation in addressing shared challenges, counter hybrid threats across all domains, and strengthen the resilience of their respective societies.

Source: QNA