The authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have decided to join the international coalition to ensure the safety of maritime navigation in the Persian Gulf, UAE news agency WAM reported referring to a statement by the country’s MFA.

According to him, the goal of such a step is to support regional and international efforts in combating threats to maritime shipping and world trade, as well as ensuring global energy security and the supply of energy resources, TASS reported.

Thus, now the US, Australia, Bahrain, the UK, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia enter the association.

The situation in the Persian Gulf escalated on July 19, when the tanker Stena Impero sailing under the British flag was detained in the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC, elite units of the Iranian Armed Forces). According to the IRGC, the tanker was detained in connection with a violation of international rules and escorted to shore for inspection. The US State Department announced that Washington is building a coalition to ensure freedom of navigation in the Gulf region. On July 23, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo proposed involving states from different regions of the world in the coalition.