Trump Calls for International Effort to Secure Hormuz Strait as Oil Prices Surge
US President Donald Trump has urged nations dependent on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to take collective responsibility for keeping the strategic waterway open, offering American support for the effort. His statement comes amid a critical disruption to global energy flows and a sharp rise in oil prices.
Global crude prices have increased by 40 per cent since Iran began blocking the strait and targeting Gulf energy infrastructure. The strait, a mere 34 miles wide at its narrowest point, is a vital conduit for approximately one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas. The shutdown followed US-Israeli military strikes that escalated into a broader conflict with Iran.
In social media posts, President Trump asserted that the United States had militarily and economically defeated Iran but acknowledged its continued ability to conduct asymmetric attacks, such as deploying drones or mines in the waterway. He announced that the US would soon begin escorting tankers and called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to contribute naval forces. “This should have always been a team effort,” Trump stated, adding that the US would coordinate to ensure operations proceed “quickly, smoothly, and well.” He also warned that the US would “bomb the hell out of the shoreline” and target Iranian vessels to reopen the passage.
The US military has already executed heavy airstrikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, the primary hub for Iran’s oil exports. Trump threatened further strikes on the island’s infrastructure if Iran interferes with shipping.
While some allies have mobilized naval assets, broader political and military support for the US-led campaign against Iran remains cautious. France has positioned an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean, with President Emmanuel Macron describing a defensive mission to reopen the strait. The United Kingdom has also dispatched a warship to the region following attacks on its Cypriot airbase.
The crisis has placed intense pressure on oil-importing nations to secure maritime routes. The situation underscores the vulnerability of global energy supply chains to regional conflicts and the diplomatic challenge of forming a unified international response to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
