By Ginika Igboke
President Donald Trump said on March 16 that several countries are preparing to send warships to join the U.S. Navy in escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, while expressing frustration with some NATO allies for not yet committing.
“Numerous countries have told me they’re on the way,” Trump said during a luncheon at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “Some are very enthusiastic about it. Some are in countries that we’ve helped for many, many years.”
Trump said Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, declined his request to deploy two aircraft carriers to the Arabian Sea or eastern Mediterranean.
By contrast, he praised Emmanuel Macron of France for taking action, noting that a French aircraft carrier has been sent to the eastern Mediterranean. That move has allowed the USS Gerald R. Ford to redeploy and join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea to focus on securing the strait.
“I’ve spoken to him,” Trump said of Macron. “On a scale of zero to 10, I’d say he’s been an eight.”
While declining to name all participating countries, Trump said some have already begun deploying naval forces to the region.
“They’re coming already. They’ve already started to get there,” he said, noting that deployments take time.
Despite seeking allied support, Trump emphasized that the United States could secure the waterway independently if necessary.
“We don’t need anybody. We’re the strongest nation in the world,” he said. “But it’s interesting—I’m doing it in some cases to see how they react.”
He reiterated long-standing concerns about allied reliability, saying some partners might not respond in a time of need.
Trump said he had asked several countries that rely heavily on oil shipments through the strait to assist in the mission, including China, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and others.
“These countries get much more of their oil from the region than we do,” he said, noting that Japan imports about 95 percent of its oil from the region, China about 90 percent, and South Korea roughly 35 percent.
Mixed Response From Allies
Several NATO members, including Germany, Spain, and Italy, have pushed back on calls to participate in the operation.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius questioned the value of additional European naval deployments, asking what “a handful” of frigates could achieve beyond the capabilities of the U.S. Navy.
Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said the United States and Israel did not consult European allies before launching the war and initially indicated that assistance was not required.
“This is not our war, we have not started it,” he said.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also rejected the idea, warning that sending ships into a conflict zone would effectively draw Italy into the war.
Meanwhile, Denmark and the United Kingdom have not ruled out participation and said they are still evaluating the request.
Trump criticized the UK’s cautious approach, saying Starmer told him he needed to consult his team before making a decision.
“You’re the prime minister. You can make your own decision,” Trump said, recounting the exchange.
Ongoing Security Risks in the Strait
Although Trump said U.S. and Israeli forces have significantly weakened Iran’s military, he warned that the narrow waterway remains vulnerable to asymmetric threats.
“A single terrorist can put something in the water or launch a small missile from shore,” he said, noting the proximity of shipping lanes to Iran’s coastline.
The vulnerability of the strait has long made it a strategic pressure point in global energy markets.
To reinforce security, the Pentagon is deploying additional naval forces to support existing carrier strike groups. These include multiple Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers and a three-ship group led by the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship capable of carrying more than 2,400 Marines and up to 20 F-35 fighter jets.
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