Canada backs allies on Hormuz efforts as Iran conflict drives energy fears

March 19,2026

RED FM News Desk

Prime Minister Mark Carney has supported a joint statement with allied nations expressing readiness to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, more than two weeks into the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. While no specific actions were outlined, Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canada is considering assistance to neighbouring countries if requested through NATO.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand told The Canadian Press she hopes an upcoming G7 meeting will help de-escalate the conflict, which she warns could trigger humanitarian crises in vulnerable nations due to disruptions in key shipping routes. She added that Canada is working with both European allies and Middle Eastern partners to protect civilians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision to launch the war alongside the United States, stressing that military action was necessary, though he declined to provide a timeline for its end.

Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth said the U.S. planned its largest strike of the conflict on Thursday. The war has intensified volatility in global energy markets, with oil and gas prices surging after Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz.

Recent attacks have further escalated tensions, including Iranian strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure that caused major damage at Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal—responsible for a significant share of global liquefied natural gas. U.S. oil major ExxonMobil is a partner in ‌the damaged ⁠LNG facilities. A drone strike was reported on a Kuwaiti refinery too. These developments followed Israeli strikes on Iran’s largest gas field a day earlier. Bloomberg claims that after Qatar LNG plant outage ,more buyers are turning to US suppliers.