Trump: We do not benefit from the Strait of Hormuz, and the beneficiary countries should protect it

SadaNews - U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to form a coalition of countries to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, hoping to announce it later this week, according to four sources reported to Axios.

Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open at all times, emphasizing that the countries reliant on passing their oil through it are the ones concerned with participating in its defense and fighting to ensure its security. He also called on NATO and China to contribute to efforts to reopen the strait and secure navigation through it.

 

In a post on the "Truth Social" platform, Trump said that the United States and several other countries will send warships to reopen commercial shipping routes, inviting China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to assist.

In a statement made to reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he is "demanding" NATO countries and other oil-importing nations, including China, to help the United States secure the strait.

He added: "We are talking with other countries about securing the straits. It would be good for other countries to join us in this mission. We will help, and we are receiving good responses."

Trump stated that the United States is in talks with seven countries, noting that some have already declined, emphasizing that the mission "will be small" since Iran "now has only a very limited amount of firepower."

According to an American official, Trump and senior officials in his administration spent Saturday and Sunday in intensive communications to work on forming this multinational coalition.

Trump also spoke on Sunday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding these efforts, a significant shift after he had said days earlier that it was "too late" for Britain's involvement.

An informed source on the details stated: "It was a busy weekend of diplomacy between the United States and its European, Gulf, and Asian allies. The primary focus of the Trump administration is on building political commitment from allies to form a group specifically for the Strait of Hormuz."

So far, no country has publicly announced its commitment to participate, but a senior official in the U.S. administration said that Trump expects some countries to announce their support during this week, forming what the White House calls the "Hormuz Coalition."

Participating countries will be asked to contribute warships, support for command and control, drones, and other military assets.

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that Trump wants to announce the coalition this week.