Trump Urges Global Partners to Secure Strait of Hormuz as Allies Respond Cautiously
President Donald J. Trump is pressing forward with a plan to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, calling on key nations that depend heavily on the shipping lane to take responsibility for ensuring its security.
The narrow passageway—through which a significant share of the world’s oil supply travels—has been effectively blocked amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, raising concerns about global energy markets and international security.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, President Trump made it clear that nations benefiting most from the flow of oil through the strait should play a direct role in restoring safe passage.
“The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!”
Trump emphasized that the United States would work alongside allied nations to quickly stabilize the situation and ensure safe navigation through the crucial corridor.
“The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well,” Trump wrote.
“This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be — It will bring the World together toward Harmony, Security, and Everlasting Peace!”
The president later highlighted specific nations whose economies rely heavily on oil shipments through the strait, naming China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom as countries with a direct stake in keeping the channel open.
However, the early international reaction has been far from enthusiastic.
Speaking on Sunday, Trump warned that NATO’s future could face serious challenges if allied nations failed to contribute to securing the passage. According to The New York Times, Trump pointed out that Europe relies far more heavily on Middle Eastern oil than the United States.
“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” he said.
Responses from global leaders suggest that many governments are hesitant to commit to immediate military involvement.
The European Union voiced support for reopening the strait but stopped short of promising concrete action.
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and that’s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat for foreign affairs and security policy.
In the United Kingdom, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband suggested that the conflict itself must be addressed before the shipping route can safely reopen, stating that the “best and simplest way” to reopen the strait would be to end the fighting.
President Trump spoke Sunday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, though no immediate commitments from London were announced.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated that Japan’s navy would not be entering the increasingly volatile waters of the Persian Gulf at this time. Takaichi is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington later this week.
China avoided addressing the security proposal directly but reiterated its view that the war should come to an end.
France signaled a more conditional approach. President Emmanuel Macron has stated that once the immediate dangers subside, France would be prepared to deploy warships to help escort commercial vessels safely through the strait.
Macron also said he had warned Iran that international shipping must be allowed to pass through the waterway without interference.
South Korea likewise offered a cautious response. A spokesperson for President Lee Jae Myung said the country would “communicate closely with the United States,” though no commitment of forces was announced.
According to Axios, reopening the strait may require significant military operations beforehand. Analysts believe that Iranian missile positions along the northern shoreline would likely need to be neutralized before international shipping can safely resume. The southern side of the strait borders the United Arab Emirates and an Omani enclave.
President Trump has been direct about how the United States is prepared to handle the situation if necessary.
He stated 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!”
For the Trump administration, the stakes are not merely regional but global. With the Strait of Hormuz serving as one of the most critical energy arteries in the world, ensuring its security remains a central priority for maintaining stability in global markets and defending international trade routes.
Whether America’s allies will ultimately step up to share the burden remains an open question.