// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Miliband says re-opening Strait of Hormuz 'essential' as he meets Rubio
Marco Rubio and Ed Miliband are discussing conflicts in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza
Re-opening the Strait of Hormuz is essential to bringing down the cost of living in the UK, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has said ahead of talks with US counterpart Marco Rubio.
The Labour minister is in Washington for his first official one-on-one meeting with Rubio.
The pair are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis 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 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.