UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has called on the US to re-open the Strait of Hormuz ahead of his first official one-to-one meeting with his US counterpart Marco Rubio.

Giving ships free passage through the Gulf waterway is “essential to ease cost-of-living pressures on British families”, Miliband said as he headed to Washington.

The pair are also expected to discuss the Ukraine war and tackling “the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza”.

Miliband was invited to the US capital by Rubio after they met on the sidelines of a foreign ministers’ summit in the Philippines, where the former Labour leader made his debut as foreign secretary.

The White House was reported to be concerned about Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to hand Miliband the Foreign Office brief, given his previous criticism of US President Donald Trump as a racist and a misogynist.

Trump is also a trenchant opponent of wind farms and supports the opening up North Sea oil and use of fossil fuels, whereas in his former role as UK energy secretary, Miliband championed net zero and renewables.

Burnham has signalled a shift in north sea oil policy, earning praise from the Oval Office, but the dynamic between Miliband and Rubio will be closely watched.

Last month, Washington’s top diplomat in London, Warren Stephens, said Miliband had been “wrong” in 2016 to call Mr Trump “a racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper” and added “hopefully his views have changed”.

Speaking ahead of the talks, Miliband said: “The government is committed to nurturing our strong, enduring and essential alliance with the US.

“I am greatly looking forward to my second meeting with secretary of state Marco Rubio, in which we will discuss the ongoing work to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and secure a lasting ceasefire, which is essential to ease cost-of-living pressures on British families.”

The strategic sea route, which had been open before the US and Israel launched the war in February, has been a flashpoint in the Middle East conflict and disruption to trade has driven up fuel and food prices.

Miliband added: “We will also discuss how we can continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine against Russia’s war – as well as the importance of addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and working towards a lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.”

In the face of erratic US support, the UK foreign secretary is set to stress that Ukraine’s security is inseparable from European and transatlantic security and restate the UK’s commitment to stand with Kyiv for as long as it takes.

Miliband will be taking the UK’s seat on the World Bank board, so he will also meet its president Ajay Banga during his visit to discuss development, climate change and strengthening global resilience.

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