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The Trump administration is preparing to announce a naval coalition with multiple countries to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route threatened by Iran, according to a report Sunday by The Wall Street Journal.
The announcement could come as soon as this week, though discussions continue on whether escort operations would begin immediately or later.
President Donald Trump said Sunday he is urging several countries to deploy warships to help safeguard the strategic waterway as oil prices rise during the ongoing conflict with Iran. Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, the president said he has asked about seven nations to participate in protecting the strait.
The president did not identify the countries involved in the negotiations but said many of them depend heavily on oil shipments that travel through the narrow passage.
“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their own territory,” President Trump said, adding that the United States relies far less on oil transported through the strait.
President Trump said China receives about 90 percent of its oil through the route, while the United States depends on it only minimally. He declined to say whether China has agreed to take part in the proposed effort.
“It would be nice to have other countries police that with us, and we’ll help. We’ll work with them,” he said.
Some governments have expressed caution about committing forces to an escort mission while hostilities remain active, citing the risks of operating in a potential combat zone.
“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,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added that nations such as China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom could potentially participate in the effort. About one-fifth of the global oil supply passes through the narrow corridor each day, making disruptions there a major concern for international markets.
