Trump warns countries to help secure Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that other countries should help the U.S. secure the Strait of Hormuz, arguing the key shipping route benefits them more than it does Washington.

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said countries such as China, which rely more heavily on oil shipments passing through the Strait, should contribute to securing it.

“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory. It’s the place from which they get their energy. And they should come and they should help us protect it,” Trump said.

“Why are we maintaining the Hormuz Strait when it’s really there for China and many other countries? Why aren’t they doing it?”

Trump claimed that about 90% of China’s crude imports pass through the strait, while the U.S. only relies on it for “1%, 2%” of its oil. However, analysts say Beijing has spent the past two decades diversifying energy supplies and building strategic reserves to mitigate potential disruptions.

Oil prices hovered around the $100 per barrel Monday, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures trading at $99.32 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent was at $104.84.

Edward Fishman, a director at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the Trump administration did not consult allies in Europe or Asia before launching military action against Iran.

Those allies are much more dependent on oil imports from the Gulf than the U.S. is, Fishman told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia,” raising questions about whether they would expect concessions from Washington in return for assistance.

“Remember, these countries, despite being U.S. allies, have been hit with really steep tariffs by the Trump administration over the last year,” Fishman said.

He added that if the tables were turned, Trump would likely demand something in return for assistance.

Trump’s latest comments followed earlier remarks on Truth Social, where he claimed Saturday that “Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.”

Several ships plying the narrow strait have been damaged ever since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran last month.

No country has publicly announced plans to deploy warships to the strait. Notably, the U.S. Navy has also not been escorting ships through the waterway.

Reuters reported last week that the U.S. Navy has refused “near-daily” requests from the shipping industry to escort ships, citing three shipping industry sources familiar with ​the matter. The report said the risk of attacks was too high for now.

Japan’s prime minister Sanae Takaichi reportedly said Monday that there were no plans to dispatch naval vessels to escort vessels in the Middle East.

New Zealand’s finance minister Nicola Willis also told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” that the country has not received such a request.

Trump said Sunday that the U.S. was talking to about seven countries, although he declined to name them. He also criticized the NATO alliance.

“We’re always there for NATO. We’re helping them with Ukraine. It’s got an ocean in between us. Doesn’t affect us, but we’ve helped them. And it’ll be interesting to see what country wouldn’t help us with a very small endeavour, which is just keeping the strait open.”

Trump also said Iran was defeated and had very little firepower left. However, Iranian attacks in the region have continued. Drone and missile strikes were reported in Dubai and Israel on Monday Asia time.

Vessel traffic on the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, has effectively come to a standstill.

Several European nations, including France and the United Kingdom, have discussed plans to allow commercial shipping to resume in the strait.

Trump said Sunday that British Prime Minister Kier Starmer had offered to deploy aircraft carriers to the region, which Trump said should have been sent “before we start the war [with Iran].”

“Whether we get support or not, I can say this, and I said it to them: we will remember,” Trump added.