Muted response as Trump urges nations to escort ships through Hormuz Strait

The US president’s call for allied naval forces comes as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says, ‘Let him send his ships’.

President Donald Trump has suggested that other countries send their warships to operate alongside US naval forces in order to keep the Strait of Hormuz “open and safe.” The proposal comes as oil prices continue to rise amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump expressed hope that countries such as China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom would deploy ships to the region. He said these nations are also affected by disruptions in the vital shipping route and could help ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains secure for global trade and oil transportation.

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright told the NBC broadcaster on Sunday that he has been “in dialogue” with some of the countries Trump mentioned and that he expected that China “will be a constructive partner” in reopening the Hormuz Strait.

But countries have made no promises.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for China’s Embassy in the US, said that “all parties have the responsibility to ensure stable and unimpeded energy supply”, and that China would “strengthen communication with relevant parties” for de-escalation.

Tehran says the Hormuz Strait, through which one-fifth of global oil exports normally pass, is open to all except the US and its allies.

Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi told the US network CBS that Tehran has been “approached by a number of countries” seeking safe passage for their vessels, “and this is up to our military to decide”.

Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar told The Financial Times that negotiations between New Delhi and Tehran had allowed two Indian-flagged gas tankers to pass through the strait on Saturday.

“I am at the moment engaged in talking to them, and my talking has yielded some results. This is ongoing… Certainly, from India’s perspective, it is better that we reason and we coordinate and we get a solution,” Jaishankar said.