Trump calls on oil-importing nations to secure Strait of Hormuz

Washington — US President Donald Trump on Saturday (14 March) called upon oil-importing nations whose shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz to guarantee the security of the waterway, promising assistance and coordination from the United States.

“Countries in the world that obtain oil through the Strait of Hormuz must protect that passage and we will help, a lot!” Trump said on Truth Social.

He also pledged that Washington would coordinate with those nations to ensure that everything proceeds swiftly, smoothly, and well.

“This should always be a team effort and now it will be. This will unite the world towards harmony, security, and lasting peace,” Trump wrote in his post.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted following US and Israeli attacks on Iran on 28 February, which caused damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated by striking Israeli territory and American military bases in the Middle East.

The Strait of Hormuz is the primary conduit for supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas from Persian Gulf nations to global markets, accounting for approximately 20 per cent of global trade in oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas.