Donald Trump’s aspiration to form a coalition to help protect ships passing through the disputed Strait of Hormuz has met with a lukewarm reception from the international community, with the US president reaching out to NATO partners and even urging China to join.
Trump said Sunday that his administration is in contact with seven countries about helping to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but declined to name them.
Separately, in an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, the US president argued that reopening the strait should be a joint effort by the beneficiaries of trade through the region and warned the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of dire consequences if no help came.
Read also | US-Iran War LIVE: UAE Air Defense Systems Intercept Iranian Missiles, Drones
NATO threats, China’s involvement
“It’s only appropriate that the people who are the beneficiaries of the strait help make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump said, according to the FT, with the US president arguing that Europe and China, unlike the US, are heavily dependent on Gulf oil.
“If there’s no answer or if it’s a negative answer, I think it’s going to be very bad for the future of NATO,” Trump added, without going into what the implications would be.
On what kind of help the US needs, Trump said “whatever it takes” and called on allies to send minesweepers, of which Europe has far more than the US.
The US president also called for China’s involvement, telling the FT: “I think China should also help because China gets 90 percent of its oil from the straits (sic).
Trump’s comments came after a public appeal to the international community for help in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Over the weekend, Trump called on countries affected by the effective shutdown of shipping through the waterway to help protect the resumption of trade, even naming several countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
Trump also promised “LOTS” of American support, only to be insulted.
Read also | No ‘blanket’ with Iran for Indian vessels to pass through Hormuz: Jaishankar
A generally muted reaction
Australia and Japan on Monday ruled out sending naval vessels to the Persian Gulf to defend ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, while the response from other US allies, including the UK, was muted.
“We have not made any decisions about sending escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done within the legal framework,” Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament on Monday, days before she traveled to Washington for talks with Trump.
Australia has also ruled out sending ships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz – “We will not be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. We know how incredibly important it is, but it’s not something we’ve been asked to do or contribute to,” Catherine King, a member of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cabinet, told state-run ABC station.
South Korea, which requires parliamentary approval to deploy overseas troops, said it was reviewing the matter – “We will communicate closely with the US on this matter and make a decision after careful consideration,” South Korea’s presidential office said on Sunday, according to Reuters.
Read also | China has a lot to lose in a US-Israel war against Iran
Meanwhile, the UK has yet to officially respond. However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed with Trump the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported, citing a Downing Street spokesman.
Even China has not yet responded to Trump’s calls. A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in the US earlier said that “all parties have a responsibility to ensure stable and uninterrupted energy supplies” and that China would “strengthen communication with relevant parties” to de-escalate.
While France also did not respond directly, Reuters reported that foreign ministers of European Union (EU) member states will discuss on Monday strengthening a small naval mission in the Middle East set up in 2024 to protect ships from Houthi attacks. However, it is unlikely that the scope of the mission would expand to include reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Germany, which Trump did not name, also ruled out participation: “Will we soon be an active part of this conflict? No,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told ARD television.
