Trump Calls Other Nations to Deploy Ships to Secure Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump on Saturday urged other nations to send naval vessels to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil supplies that has been disrupted by ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Trump, who recently announced that the United States will begin escorting tankers through the strait, wrote on Truth Social: “Many countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.”

He specifically mentioned that “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area.”

Iranian attacks have nearly halted maritime traffic in the strait, through which about a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas typically pass. The waterway narrows to just 54 kilometers (34 miles) at its tightest point.

Speaking on Friday about US Navy escort plans, Trump said: “It’ll happen soon, very soon.” In his Saturday post, he claimed that Iran’s military capability had been largely neutralized but acknowledged that it could still launch attacks along the strait.

“We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are,” he wrote.

Trump concluded that “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!”