The Donald Trump administration is likely to announce a coalition of countries to escort ships through the critical Strait of Hormuz, where trade remains effectively halted amid the US-Israel war with Iran.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration is expected to announce the formation of the coalition this week. The report says Washington and its potential coalition partners are currently discussing the scope of operations and their start date.
Late on Sunday, Trump himself commented on these discussions and weighed in on China joining the coalition.
“We’re talking to countries about policing the straits, because they are the ones [who benefit],” Trump told reporters on board Air Force One, adding, “China, as an example, gets about 90% of its oil from the Hormuz Strait. It’d be nice to have other countries policing with us. And we’ll help, and we’ll work with them.”
Trump added that he is “demanding” the participation of other countries for securing trade through the Strait of Hormuz — “I really am demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory because it is their territory. It’s the place from which they get their energy, and they should come and help us protect it. You could make the case that maybe we shouldn’t even be there at all because we don’t need it. We have a lot of oil,” the US president told reporters.
Despite Trump’s insistence, the White House has not issued any official statement, even as many countries remained non-committal, at least publicly, to a potential escort mission through the strait.
Trump’s appeal to international partners
Earlier, Trump had called on several international navies to assist ships in navigating through the Strait of Hormuz: “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated (sic),” Trump had written in a post on his Truth Social platform.
However, with no affirmative responses yet to Trump’s appeal, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News on Sunday that he was “in dialogue” with some of the countries Trump mentioned.
Wright also added that he expects China to “be a constructive partner” in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump also promised considerable assistance from the US to countries looking to escort ships through the strait.
“The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way, but the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT! [sic],” Trump said on Saturday.
The development comes amid a spiralling global energy crisis precipitated by the halt in trade through the Strait of Hormuz, with rising gas prices also affecting the US as well, where Trump faces mid-term polls later in the year.
The average price of gas in the US on Sunday was $3.70 a gallon, up 26% from $2.93 a month earlier, when the conflict had not broken out. The cost of diesel, in the same period, rose 36%, from $3.66 to $4.97 per gallon.
Trump threatens Iran over Strait of Hormuz
Trump said the US had already defeated Iran in its effort to stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Still, he appeared to be on edge over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
On Saturday, Trump announced that the US military had “obliterated” military targets in Iran’s Kharg Island, which is crucial for Tehran’s energy exports.
“…but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island,” Trump added, but followed up with a threat.
“However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” Trump said.
Later, Trump also told NBC News that more strikes on Kharg Island could be on the cards — “We may hit it a few more times just for fun,” said Trump.
