Donald Trump, President of the United States, on Saturday urged countries badly affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to deploy naval vessels to help secure the reopening of the vital passage for global oil shipments and other international commodities.
The U.S. president said several nations could join efforts alongside the United States to keep the waterway open for international shipping.
Trump specifically urged China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and others to join the U.S. in preventing Iran from keeping the strait blocked to shipping.
“Many countries, especially those that are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending warships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the strait open and safe,” Trump posted on the social platform Truth Social.
He added that key global economies impacted by the disruption should contribute to the effort.
“Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others that are affected by this artificial constraint will send ships to the area,” he said.
The White House later echoed the president’s stance in a noon post on X, stating: “One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!” – President Donald J. Trump.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, handling a significant share of global oil shipments.
The latest tensions are part of a widening Middle East conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States that escalated after joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian military targets on February 28, 2026.
Since then, Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region and threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a broader regional war and global economic fallout.
More than 20 million barrels of oil pass through the strait each day — roughly one-fifth of global consumption, according to Reuters. Disruptions there have already pushed oil prices sharply higher as markets fear prolonged supply shortages.
The conflict has also begun affecting shipping and trade across the Gulf.
Tankers have been attacked and maritime traffic disrupted, while analysts warn that a sustained blockade could have “catastrophic consequences” for global energy markets and the wider economy.
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