Trump requests seven nations to escort vessels through Strait of Hormuz

Washington—United States President Donald Trump stated on Sunday (15 March) that he has requested approximately seven nations to join a coalition to escort vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, off Iran.

Trump did not specify which nations, though he noted they are heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil. According to him, escort operations are essential as the Strait of Hormuz carries 20 per cent of global oil supplies.

“I have asked these countries to join and protect because it is their own territory,” Trump told media aboard Air Force One, referring to the strait.

In an interview with The Financial Times on Sunday, Trump stated that NATO member nations should dispatch warships to help open the Strait of Hormuz or face a “very bad” future.

“If there is no response or if the response is negative, I think it would be very bad for NATO’s future,” he told the British newspaper.

Previously, a report in The Wall Street Journal on Sunday (15 March) indicated that the White House planned to announce the formation of the multinational coalition as early as this week, citing statements from US officials.

Openly, many governments have been reluctant to commit to such a mission before the US-Israel war with Iran ends, given the various risks involved, the WSJ reported.

However, Trump claimed via his Truth Social account on Saturday (14 March) that many nations, particularly those affected by Iranian attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz, would send warships to secure oil trade routes.

In his first message as Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday (12 March) called for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to continue and promised to open new fronts in his country’s conflict with the US and Israel.

The US and Israel launched massive strikes against Iran on 28 February, which disrupted global shipping, caused oil prices to surge, and shook the global economy.