President Donald Trump said Monday that he is frustrated more countries have not stepped forward to assist U.S. forces in protecting commercial shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking from the White House East Room, Trump said American forces are already targeting Iran’s maritime capabilities that threaten one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.
“We’re hammering [Iran’s] capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with more than 30 mine-laying ships destroyed,” Trump said.
The president noted that roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply moves through the narrow waterway each year, making its security vital to the global economy.
Trump said he has personally approached seven countries about contributing naval support to keep the shipping lanes open.
“We’ll give you a list,” he told reporters, adding that Marco Rubio would announce which nations have agreed to participate once discussions are finalized.
“We’re going to have some good help, and I think we’re going to be disappointed in some nations, too,” Trump said. “And I’ll let you know who those nations are.”
Although the president declined to name the countries involved, he highlighted how dependent some major economies are on the waterway.
Trump noted that about 95% of Japan’s oil imports, 90% of China’s, and roughly 35% of South Korea’s travel through the strait.
“Iran has always used that as an economic weapon, and it’s not going to be able to be used very long,” Trump said of the waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
He added that several nations have already indicated they are preparing to contribute.
“Numerous countries have told me they’re on the way. Some are very enthusiastic about it,” the president said.
Others, he suggested, have been less eager to participate.
“Some weren’t that enthusiastic, and the level of enthusiasm — that matters to me,” Trump said. “These people literally need it, and they should be in here very happily helping us.”
Trump said some of the potential partners are regional powers near the Gulf, while others would need to deploy forces from farther away.
“I do a hard sell on them, because my attitude is, we don’t need anybody,” he said. “We’re the strongest nation in the world.”
“I’m almost doing it in some cases, not because we need them, but because I want to find out how they react. Because I’ve been saying for years that if we ever did need them, they won’t be there, not all of them, but they won’t be there.”
“I was not happy with the UK,” he said. “They should be involved enthusiastically. We’ve been protecting these countries for years with NATO.”
Watch the clip below:
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump reveals he is partially asking for help in the Strait of Hormuz just to see if our "allies" will actually act like allies
"I'm almost doing it, in some cases, not because we need them, but because I want to find out how they react!"
"Because I've… pic.twitter.com/lxcE8BAIKm
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 16, 2026
More over at The New York Post:
Trump again urges nations to help reopen of Strait of Hormuz https://t.co/MvzBrGSlBH pic.twitter.com/Gd2bnDOqTe
— New York Post (@nypost) March 16, 2026