Trump criticises allies reluctant to join Strait of Hormuz escort mission
Washington — US President Donald Trump on Monday (16 March) complained that American allies are reluctant to respond to the White House’s call to join a proposed multinational mission to escort oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have protected them from all sorts of terrible outside threats, but they are not very enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me,” Trump said at a press conference.
Trump said several countries hosting large numbers of US troops have refused to provide assistance when Washington asked whether they could contribute minesweepers for a possible escort mission.
“I am not forcing them to agree because my position is that we do not need anyone. However, this is interesting: I almost did it in some cases, not because we need them, but because I wanted to see how they would react,” said Trump.
Trump specifically stated he is “not happy with England” because British Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to provide assistance to the US in the early stages of the US-Israel war with Iran.
“I was very surprised by England, because two weeks ago I told England, ‘Why don’t you send some ships there?’ And he really did not want to do it,” Trump said, referring to England as America’s “oldest ally”.
According to him, Britain’s attitude was very poor and he also questioned why Starmer refused to immediately decide on sending British warships to join the escort mission.
“I said, ‘You don’t need to have a meeting with your team, you are a prime minister, you can decide it yourself, why do you have to have a meeting with your team just to determine whether you will or will not send a minesweeper or some ships to help us?’” said Trump, referring to a telephone call with Starmer on Sunday (15 March).
Meanwhile, Trump claimed “many countries have told me that they are on their way,” although he did not name these countries.
Various media reports indicate that so far, US allies appear to have made no commitments or have declined to participate.
“I have long been a strong critic of all protection for other countries, because I know that we will be the ones protecting them. And if someday we need help, they will not be there for us. I have realised this for a long time,” he complained.
Additionally, Trump also claimed that US forces have sunk Iran’s entire fleet of minelayers, but it is still unclear whether Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that Iran can now load mines using other types of vessels and place them in the strait.