US President Donald Trump has urged other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway for global oil trade that Iran has effectively closed amid the ongoing conflict.

Among the countries he has called for support are China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain. Trump has asked them to send warships to escort oil tankers through the Strait. He has also asked NATO partners to send naval reinforcements to the region.

Trump has hinted that he might delay a planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month if Beijing does not assist. Trump also warned that no response or a negative reply to his request would be “very bad for the future of NATO”.

However, his appeal hasn’t brought any commitments from other countries so far. Japan has said that it is not planning to order any maritime security operations.

Global oil prices have surged by more than 40 percent since the US-Israel combine launched a war Iran.

Published on March 17, 2026