UAE Backs Multinational Maritime Taskforce to Secure Reopening of Strait of Hormuz

The UAE urges Western allies to form a "Hormuz Security Force" as Iran’s blockade of the vital waterway spikes energy prices and threatens global trade.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 4:14 AM EDT

Source: Reuters

The Push for a "Hormuz Security Force"

In a significant shift in regional security posturing, the UAE has informed the United States and European allies of its commitment to a multinational maritime intervention. The proposed "Hormuz Security Force" represents an effort by Abu Dhabi to formalize military protection for one of the world's most critical chokepoints. This development follows a period of intense maritime friction, with the UAE reportedly sustaining more Iranian attacks during the current conflict than any other regional actor. The waterway's closure has paralyzed local trade hubs and forced the UAE to seek urgent security guarantees for its remaining operational ports.

Strategic Context and the Global Energy Crisis

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for the global economy, traditionally carrying approximately 20% of the world's total oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Iran’s current blockade has effectively severed this supply line, causing energy prices to skyrocket and triggering widespread inflation fears across global markets. For the UAE, the crisis is existential; as a premier oil exporter and global logistics center, the continued closure of the Strait threatens the core of its national economy. The urgency of this taskforce is underscored by repeated Iranian strikes on Emirati port facilities located outside the Persian Gulf, which were being used to bypass the blockaded interior.

Diplomatic Hurdles and the UN Mandate

To provide the proposed taskforce with legal legitimacy, the UAE is collaborating with Bahrain on a United Nations Security Council resolution. The draft, which has already entered the negotiation phase, reportedly seeks to authorize the use of "all necessary means" to protect commercial shipping. However, the path to a U.N. mandate remains fraught with geopolitical tension. While the UAE seeks a firm coalition, France and other European nations have expressed hesitation, suggesting they would only participate in such a mission once the active U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has concluded. Furthermore, any resolution is likely to face significant resistance or a veto from Russia and China, both of whom have historically opposed Western-led military interventions in the region.