Trump | Urges Allies and China to Deploy Ships to Protect Freedom of Navigation in Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump of the United States has called on allies and China to send warships to the Middle East to ensure the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has threatened to block only American and Israeli ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Last Saturday (the 14th), Trump posted that countries receiving oil through the Strait of Hormuz should ensure safe passage, and he indicated that the U.S. would provide “great assistance.” He said the U.S. would cooperate with other countries to quickly, smoothly, and effectively complete escort missions, specifically naming China, Japan, France, South Korea, and the UK.

At the same time, Trump claimed that U.S. forces would continue to heavily bomb Iranian coastal areas, attacking Iranian ships and vessels in the waters. It is expected that many countries will deploy warships to coordinate and ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Last week, Trump promised that U.S. military escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz would begin soon, but also admitted that although the U.S. has 100% destroyed Iran’s military capabilities, Iran can still launch drone or short-range missile attacks in the waters. He reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz’s security would be maintained.

No country has yet explicitly responded to Trump’s call. The UK Ministry of Defence stated last Saturday that it is discussing options with allies and partners to ensure safe navigation in the Middle East. French officials said last Friday (the 13th) that the government is pushing to form a coalition to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz once the security situation stabilizes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated in an interview that the Strait of Hormuz is only blocking passage for American and Israeli ships; other countries’ ships can pass through, but most have not due to security concerns. He pointed out that currently many oil tankers and ships are safely crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

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Additionally, U.S. media reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the request from U.S. Central Command to deploy an amphibious readiness group and its Marine Expeditionary Unit. Officials said that the USS Tripoli, stationed in Japan, along with thousands of U.S. troops, is moving to the Middle East.

The USS Tripoli resembles an aircraft carrier but is significantly smaller and capable of operating nearshore. The same amphibious readiness group usually includes several warships and about 5,000 Marines and sailors.

The Tripoli is expected to take two weeks to reach the Middle East, aligning with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s expectation that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen by the end of March. The Department of Defense declined to comment on the deployment of the Tripoli citing operational security reasons.

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