WASHINGTON DC — President Donald Trump has intensified his call for allied nations to join the United States with “great enthusiasm” in securing the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran’s effective closure of the vital waterway enters its third week and global oil prices remain volatile above $100 per barrel .
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump urged other countries to get involved “quickly and with great enthusiasm” in reopening the strategic passage, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally flows
. He described Iran as a “paper tiger” but acknowledged the ongoing disruption to shipping, with zero vessels transiting the strait in recent days according to monitoring data.
“Numerous countries have told me they’re on the way. Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren’t. Some are countries that we’ve helped for many, many years, and they weren’t that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm matters to me,” Trump said.
The president declined to name which nations had committed support, citing concerns they could be targeted by Iran, but confirmed his administration had contacted approximately seven countries.
In a weekend social media post, Trump named China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom as nations he hoped would participate.
Allies Respond with Caution
The response from key allies has been notably tepid. Germany, Spain, and Italy have ruled out participation, while Britain and Denmark have expressed openness to discussions without making firm commitments.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed he is working with allies on a “collective plan” to reopen the strait, but stressed that Britain “will not be drawn into a wider war” and that any mission would not be a NATO operation.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated her country has not decided on dispatching naval vessels, citing constitutional constraints.
Australia’s government explicitly ruled out sending ships, with cabinet minister Catherine King confirming: “We won’t be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz”.
The Strategic Stakes
Trump has framed the crisis as a shared responsibility, noting that while the U.S. imports less than one percent of its oil through the strait, allies like Japan (95 percent), China (90 percent), and European nations depend heavily on the waterway.
“We strongly encourage the other nations to get involved with us… It’s the place from which they get their energy,” Trump said.
The conflict has already exacted a heavy toll. At least 2,000 people have been killed since the war began on February 28, with human rights organizations placing the figure as high as 4,900
. In the Gulf, a Palestinian civilian was killed in Abu Dhabi by a missile strike, and oil loading operations at the UAE’s Fujairah port have been suspended following drone attacks.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintained that the strait remains open to all vessels except those belonging to “enemies and those supporting their aggression”.
Tehran has claimed that states not party to the conflict can transit with coordination and permission from Iran’s armed forces.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Trump hinted that announcements about participating nations would be made soon through Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials.
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