donald trump urged the UK and other nations on Saturday (ET) to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure the key shipping route, saying allied naval deployments are needed after attacks and an effective blockade tied to the US–Israel war on Iran. He made the call on social media and in interviews on the same day (ET). The move aims to keep the narrow waterway open amid a spike in strikes on tankers and energy infrastructure.
Donald Trump calls for multinational naval effort
At the center of the appeal, donald trump named China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom among the countries he hoped would join a US-led effort, saying “many countries” would be sending warships “in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe. ” He wrote that the US had “already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability” while warning Tehran could still “send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile somewhere along, or in, this waterway. “
Trump added a forceful operational pledge: “In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!” He extended the appeal to “The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait” and said the US would provide “a lot” of support to participants.
Immediate reactions from regional and international officials
Alireza Tangsiri, navy chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said: “The Strait of Hormuz has not yet been militarily closed and is merely under control. ” Mohsen Rezaee, member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, warned that “No American ship has the right to enter the Gulf. “
The UK Ministry of Defence said it was discussing “a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region” with allies. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary of India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, confirmed that two Indian-flagged tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas crossed the strait safely, and Mohammad Fathali, Iran’s ambassador to India, said Tehran had granted Indian vessels a rare exemption following direct talks.
Shipping-monitoring authorities noted a sharp rise in assaults on vessels: UK Maritime Trade Operations recorded that 16 ships were reported to have been attacked in and around the strait in the days since the war began, with the latest update issued on 12 March (ET).
Quick context
The appeal comes after the US and Israel mounted military action against Iran a fortnight ago, and Tehran announced it would keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz. The strait moves roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, and its effective closure and repeated strikes on shipping and energy infrastructure have pushed global oil prices sharply higher.
What’s next
Allies face immediate choices: whether to mobilize naval escorts, how to coordinate with US forces, and how to balance exemptions for some flagged vessels while Tehran continues to control passage. The UK Ministry of Defence is discussing options with partners, and further developments will hinge on which nations join any coalition and on Tehran’s response to increased military activity around the strait. For now, donald trump’s appeal has reopened debates over naval commitments and the risks of escalation in the Gulf.
