US President Donald Trump’s urgent call for allied nations to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz has met with widespread hesitation, as countries including the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and France declined to make firm military commitments. Trump took to his Truth Social platform to urge these nations — along with China and others — to send naval vessels to protect the world’s most critical oil shipping corridor. Despite his assertion that many countries were already preparing to dispatch warships alongside the United States, no government has confirmed such a deployment.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil exports travel, has been effectively blockaded by Iran in retaliation for US and Israeli airstrikes. Since the conflict erupted at the end of February, sixteen oil tankers have been attacked in the waterway. Tehran has warned that any tanker heading for the United States, Israel, or their allies will be treated as a legitimate military target and destroyed immediately, raising the stakes enormously for any nation considering naval involvement.
Individual country responses varied in tone but were unified by reluctance to commit. France was the most direct, with Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin declaring there was absolutely no question of sending any vessels to the strait while the conflict remained active. The UK said it was reviewing options including mine-hunting drones. Japan acknowledged the legal possibility of deployment but called the threshold for sending warships “very high.” South Korea said it was monitoring the situation closely and exploring measures from multiple angles.
The crisis represents the largest oil supply disruption in recorded history, sending global energy prices soaring and threatening international trade flows. The EU is also examining whether its existing Aspides naval mission — currently protecting ships from Houthi attacks in Yemen — could be extended to cover the strait. Germany’s foreign minister, however, expressed scepticism about expanding the mission, questioning whether it would deliver greater security.
China, both an ally of Iran and a massive consumer of Gulf oil, avoided any mention of military action in its response. Beijing indicated it was in diplomatic talks with Tehran about allowing oil tankers to pass, while the Chinese embassy in Washington stated it would work to strengthen communication with regional parties and play a constructive role in de-escalation. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressed hope that China would prove to be a constructive partner in eventually reopening the waterway.