Trump Requests Allied Nations Deploy Naval Vessels to Secure Strait of Hormuz; Japan and Australia Refuse
US President Donald Trump has called on allied nations to deploy naval vessels to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran as a consequence of the US-Israel war against Iran.
The Japanese and Australian governments have rejected the request and confirmed they have no plans to send naval vessels to the Middle East.
Trump, according to Reuters on Monday (16 March 2026), has called on US allies to form a coalition to reopen this vital maritime route.
With war creating chaos throughout the Middle East and shaking global energy markets, Trump emphasised on Sunday (15 March) that nations heavily dependent on oil from the Gulf have a responsibility to protect the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of global energy supplies pass.
“I demand that these nations come and protect their region because it is their region. It is where they get their energy from,” Trump told journalists aboard the presidential aircraft Air Force One whilst flying from Florida to Washington DC.
Trump revealed that his administration has contacted seven nations, though he did not name them.
In a social media post over the weekend, the US President expressed hope that China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and other nations would participate.
Asian markets opened cautiously on Monday (16 March), with Brent crude oil rising over 100 per cent above US$104.50 and regional stock markets largely weakening following Trump’s comments about involving US allied nations in helping secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on Monday (16 March) that her country, bound by a constitution rejecting war, has no plans to deploy naval escort vessels for ships in the Middle East.
“We have not made any decision about sending escort vessels. We continue to research what Japan can do independently and what can be done within a legal framework,” Takaichi told the Japanese parliament.
Australia, a major Indo-Pacific ally of the US, said it has not been asked but also confirmed it will not deploy naval vessels to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We understand how important this is, but it is not something that has been asked of us or that we will support,” stated Catherine King, a cabinet member of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in an interview with leading television broadcaster ABC.