March 15, 2026

Donald Trump has urged the UK and other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure the key shipping route out of the Middle East.

The US president said he hoped China, France, Japan and South Korea would also send ships to the passage, where a number of tankers are said to have been attacked since the US and Israel mounted their war against Iran a fortnight ago.

Responding to Trump’s comments, the UK Ministry of Defence said it was discussing “a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region” with allies.

Tehran has said it will keep blocking the strait – the world’s busiest oil shipping channel through which about 20% of world oil supplies usually pass.

Its effective closure, as well as strikes on shipping and energy infrastructure since the war started, has led to a huge rise in global oil prices.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday that “many countries” would be sending warships in conjunction with the US to help keep the strait “open and safe”.

Donald Trump has called on the UK and other nations, including China, France, Japan, and South Korea, to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure the vital shipping route amid rising tensions following US and Israeli actions against Iran. The UK Ministry of Defence is reportedly exploring options with allies to ensure shipping safety as Tehran vows to continue blocking the strait, a key channel responsible for about 20% of the world's oil supply. The closure and ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure have caused global oil prices to spike, prompting Trump to express confidence that multiple countries will join the US in keeping the strait open and secure.

Leave a Reply