Web Desk: US President Donald Trump called on NATO allies and major Asian economies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, urging countries dependent on Gulf oil to deploy naval assets to reopen the vital shipping lane after Iran effectively shut it in response to the ongoing war with the United States and Israel.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from Florida to Washington on Sunday, Trump said countries that rely heavily on oil passing through the strait should help safeguard maritime traffic.
He argued that protecting the waterway was in the interest of the nations whose energy supplies depend on it.
“The countries that benefit from that oil need to step in and protect it,” Trump said, adding that Washington expected partners to contribute to ensuring safe passage through the strategic corridor.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments, making it one of the most critical energy chokepoints globally.
Iran moved to restrict access to the passage after the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iranian targets earlier this month. Since then, the conflict has unsettled global markets and intensified geopolitical tensions across the Middle East.
Trump said several governments had been approached to assist with maritime security operations, though he did not specify which ones had been formally contacted.
However, he later suggested that China, Britain, France, Japan and South Korea could play roles in safeguarding shipping routes. According to the U.S. president, naval contributions might include minesweepers and other military systems capable of countering sea mines and unmanned aerial threats.
Trump also linked the issue to upcoming diplomatic engagements with China, indicating that Beijing’s stance could influence a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month.
In comments published by the Financial Times, Trump said China had a strong incentive to ensure the strait remained open because it receives a significant portion of its imported oil through the route.
He added that Washington might reconsider the timing of the summit depending on Beijing’s response to the U.S. request.
“We want to see where China stands,” Trump said, noting that the meeting could be postponed if necessary.
Initial reactions from U.S. partners appeared cautious.
Officials in Australia indicated that Canberra had not received a request to deploy forces to the region. A senior member of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government said Australia recognized the strategic importance of the strait but was not currently planning to contribute military assets.
Japan also signaled restraint. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament that Tokyo had not approved any naval escort mission in the Middle East, citing constitutional restrictions on overseas military operations.
South Korea’s foreign ministry said it was reviewing the situation in coordination with Washington, while Britain confirmed that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had discussed the issue with Trump and other allies.
France has previously explored the possibility of forming a multinational naval mission to escort commercial vessels through the strait, though French officials have suggested such efforts would depend on a reduction in active hostilities.
The call for international assistance comes as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran enters its third week.
Iran has faced near-daily strikes on military and infrastructure targets, while Tehran has responded by launching missiles and drones toward U.S. positions and regional allies.
The expanding confrontation has caused widespread disruption across the Middle East. Explosions were reported in Beirut on Monday after Israeli forces struck parts of the Lebanese capital, while additional attacks targeted Tehran.
Elsewhere in the region, a drone strike forced a temporary shutdown of Dubai’s airport after a fuel tank was hit.
Humanitarian groups and officials say the fighting has produced heavy casualties.
The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that more than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran since hostilities began. In Israel, Iranian missile attacks have killed at least a dozen people and injured several others.
U.S. officials say 13 American service members have died during the conflict, including six who were killed in a plane crash in Iraq last week.
Lebanon has also suffered significant losses, with the country’s health ministry reporting more than 800 deaths since clashes escalated between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Despite the growing toll, leaders in Washington, Tehran and Jerusalem have continued to signal that military operations will proceed.
The conflict has also shaken global energy markets. Crude oil prices have hovered near $100 per barrel amid fears that prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could restrict supplies.
However, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the administration believed the confrontation would likely end within weeks.
He predicted that once fighting subsides, energy shipments would recover and prices would gradually fall.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, have dismissed suggestions that Tehran is seeking negotiations to end the conflict.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran had not requested a ceasefire and would continue defending itself for as long as necessary.
Read more: Flights suspended at Dubai International Airport after Drone strike
