UK Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has warned that the world cannot afford further delay in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, as concerns intensify over a deepening global food security crisis affecting already vulnerable countries.

Speaking at the Global Partnerships Conference in London, the Foreign Secretary brought together international partners to advance a new framework for development cooperation, as ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt global energy supplies, push up fuel prices and strain food systems worldwide.

The conference comes at a pivotal moment for global agriculture, with officials warning that disruption to fertiliser flows and essential commodities could severely undermine upcoming harvests.

The World Food Programme estimates that almost 45 million additional people could fall into acute food insecurity if the conflict is not resolved by mid-year, underlining the scale of the emerging threat.

Rising instability in the region has already driven up global oil and gas prices, with ripple effects across transport, production and food distribution chains. Governments and aid agencies warn that these pressures are being felt across both developing and advanced economies, with households facing higher costs and growing financial strain.

Against this backdrop, the Foreign Secretary called for urgent international action to restore stability in key maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, which remains at the centre of escalating geopolitical tensions.

“The world is sleepwalking into a global food crisis. We cannot risk tens of millions of people going hungry because one country has hijacked an international shipping lane.
“Iran’s continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz while the agriculture clock is ticking shows why we need urgent global pressure to get the Strait reopened, fertiliser and fuel moving and ease the costs of living pressures.”
Yvette Cooper

Yvette Cooper indicated that, “that is why we will continue to lead calls for the immediate and unrestricted opening of the Strait and advance plans for the Strait of Hormuz Multinational Mission to support any agreement.”

She added that the crisis is exposing structural weaknesses in the global system, as shocks in one region rapidly cascade into markets worldwide, affecting food availability and affordability.

The Foreign Secretary further indicated that ongoing instability in the Middle East is accelerating the need for coordinated international action, warning that global systems are struggling to keep pace with rapidly unfolding events.

“The world has changed faster than the international system can support it. This conference reflects our modern approach to development, working in a new spirit of partnership and building new coalitions to drive a world free from poverty on a liveable planet.”
Yvette Cooper

The Global Partnerships Conference, co-hosted by the UK alongside South Africa, British International Investment (BII) and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), has brought together governments, international organisations, private sector leaders and civil society groups to rethink global cooperation.

A central outcome of the gathering is the proposed Global Partnerships Compact, designed to improve coordination between countries and strengthen resilience against economic, climate, and health shocks. The framework aims to make international cooperation faster, more flexible and more responsive to crises before they escalate.

Minister for Development Baroness Chapman indicated that countries are increasingly seeking greater control over their development pathways, moving beyond traditional aid models towards investment-led partnerships.

“We have heard what our partners have been calling for. They want to work in partnership with the UK. Countries want to have more control, move beyond aid, attract investment, strengthen their own health and education systems, and take charge of their own futures.
“Traditional development finance alone cannot meet that call, indeed it never could. Nor can it respond to the scale of today’s challenges.”
Baroness Chapman

Baroness Chapman stated, “we need to bring new ideas and a broader coalition of partners to the table,” adding, “the decisions that come out of this conference will benefit everyone: stronger economies, fewer crises, and a more stable and prosperous future that unlocks opportunity.”

UK Launches Multi-Billion Push to Reshape Global Development

Moreover, the UK government and its international partners have unveiled a sweeping package of reforms aimed at transforming global development financing, accelerating access to technology and placing countries at the centre of decision-making.

Announced at the Global Partnerships Conference, the initiatives form part of a broader effort to move away from traditional aid models towards investment-driven partnerships designed to strengthen resilience against economic, climate and health shocks.

A major focus of the package is the mobilisation of finance. British International Investment is set to deploy over £1 billion into climate-focused projects over the next five years, with expectations of unlocking a further £3.5 billion in private capital.

UK is also expanding its role within key multilateral institutions, including boosting its influence at the African Development Bank to increase lending capacity for African governments.

In addition, an increased shareholding in IDB Invest is expected to help drive private-sector investment and innovation across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Alongside financial reforms, a new health partnership has been launched to support children injured in the Gaza conflict, bringing together UK-Med, Imperial College London and international philanthropic partners to deliver rehabilitation and prosthetic care.

Additionally, the reforms focus on faster access to knowledge, skills and technology. New funding will support global health product development partnerships, while additional investment is expected to accelerate science and technology innovation across Africa and Asia.