Trump Loudly Calls on Countries to Send Warships for Escort, Allies React Coldly

[Text/Observer Network Liu Bai] The tense situation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to escalate, but U.S. President Trump, who is provoking the war, can’t sit still. He fantasizes about rallying allies like the UK, France, Japan, and South Korea into his led escort plan, only to be met with disappointment.

According to The Guardian on March 15, in response to Trump’s call, the UK stated it is consulting with allies on plans, considering deploying unmanned mine-sweeping vessels; a senior Japanese official did not rule out sending warships but admitted the actual deployment has “very high thresholds,” effectively a polite refusal; South Korea said it will stay in close communication and carefully assess the situation; France explicitly rejected sending ships, only planning to conduct purely defensive escort operations after the conflict eases. Meanwhile, India emphasized that direct negotiations with Iran are the effective way to reopen the strait.

As one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, the Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of global oil exports and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas transportation, serving as the core channel for Persian Gulf oil-producing countries to export energy.

Because of its strategic importance, since the outbreak of conflict, attacks in this area have triggered chain reactions. Sixteen oil tankers have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, causing severe turbulence in global energy markets. International oil prices have broken above $100 per barrel for the first time since August 2022, reaching a nearly three-year high. This crisis has caused unprecedented large-scale disruptions in global oil supplies, severely impacting countries dependent on energy imports through this strait.

From the Musandam Province of Oman, ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz. IC Photo

On the evening of the 14th, Trump posted on “Truth Social,” calling on the UK, France, Japan, South Korea, and other countries to send warships to cooperate with the U.S., “to jointly keep the Strait of Hormuz open and safe.” In a subsequent post, he further expanded the call, asking all countries that obtain oil through the strait to provide naval support, attempting to form an “international escort fleet.”

It is worth noting that despite Trump’s high-profile calls, the U.S. has not yet deployed naval vessels to escort oil tankers passing through the strait. Analysts point out that many countries are generally worried that deploying warships might entangle them in the ongoing Middle East conflict, facing unpredictable military risks, and thus have adopted a cautious stance.

As a traditional U.S. ally, the UK’s response is quite representative.

The UK Ministry of Defence stated in a release that it is currently consulting with allies on “a series of plans to ensure the safety of shipping in the region,” but did not explicitly promise to send warships. UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace further revealed in an interview with the BBC on the 15th that the UK is exploring various solutions with the U.S. and other allies, including deploying mine-sweeping unmanned vessels. “All options that help reopen the strait are under consideration,” but there was no mention of deploying warships.

Ben Wallace in BBC interview

Japan, heavily dependent on energy imports via the Strait of Hormuz, also remains cautious. A senior Japanese official said that any decision to dispatch Japanese warships to the Middle East would face “very high thresholds.”

Kobayashi Eiji, head of policy at the Liberal Democratic Party, told NHK that while the law does not completely exclude such possibilities, given that the conflict is ongoing, it is a matter requiring cautious judgment.

He suggested that, given Trump’s tendency to change his statements frequently, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide should leverage her personal relationship with Trump to clarify his true intentions.

Bloomberg commented that this essentially amounts to a tactful rejection of Trump’s request.

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide stated on the 12th that it is difficult to predict when mines will shift from being weapons of attack to “leftovers,” and “given this uncertainty,” Japan has not considered deploying military assets to the region to prepare for future mine-sweeping operations.

Christopher Johnstone, a former Pentagon and CIA expert on Japan affairs, believes that although Tokyo might anticipate Trump’s request, it would put Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide in a very difficult position before her first visit to the White House.

“This is a risky decision,” Johnstone said, “it could put Japanese ships in danger.” On the other hand, “the 2015 revision of Japanese law seems to lay the groundwork for such actions. Considering Japan’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide would find it hard to refuse.”

South Korea, also named, does not have similar legal restrictions but remains cautious.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release that it has noted Trump’s remarks, is closely monitoring the Middle East situation, and will maintain close communication with the U.S. to decide whether to take relevant actions after thorough assessment.

The statement also emphasized that South Korea is “exploring various measures from multiple angles to protect its citizens and ensure the security of energy transportation routes,” but did not mention responding to Trump’s call for deploying warships.

The Financial Times analyzed that as South Korea’s security guarantor, the U.S. stance is crucial. However, involving the South Korean military in U.S.-led missions related to Iran could provoke strong domestic opposition.

South Korea has previously sent naval forces to the Middle East, but the scope and nature of those missions were limited. Last week, a South Korean defense official explicitly stated that South Korea is not considering deploying troops to the Strait of Hormuz.

On March 9, in the Mediterranean, French President Macron visited Cyprus and inspected the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle deployed near Cyprus. IC Photo

France explicitly rejected Trump’s call.

French Defense Minister Florence Parly had already made her position clear before Trump’s post. She stated that during the ongoing escalation of conflict, France would not send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, “at present, there is no possibility of deploying any vessels there.”

Parly emphasized that France maintains a “purely defensive stance,” and currently has no plans to move the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier from the Eastern Mediterranean. President Macron previously said in Cyprus that France and its allies plan to conduct purely defensive escort missions after the most intense phase of the US-Israel-Iran conflict ends, but will not intervene at this stage.

As for the EU’s stance, EU foreign ministers are considering expanding the scope of the EU’s “Aspide” naval mission, which currently mainly protects ships in the Yemeni waters from Houthi attacks, to include the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Germany is skeptical. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told ARD that the current effectiveness of the EU “Aspide” mission is poor, and there is high doubt about whether expanding it to the Strait of Hormuz would improve security. Currently, the mission comprises three ships from France, Italy, and Greece.

Analysts point out that whether the military coordination of escort plans between the U.S. and Europe can be implemented still heavily depends on domestic political and legal constraints. Trump’s contradictory public statements also make allies’ assessment of his true strategic intentions more complicated. After all, Trump recently dismissed the idea of Britain dispatching an aircraft carrier, telling reporters he “doesn’t care” whether allies can assist.

India firmly advocates diplomatic solutions. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told the Financial Times that direct negotiations are the most effective way to restart shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. India’s negotiations with Iran have already allowed two liquefied gas ships flying Indian flags to pass through the strait on Saturday (14th).

“I am currently communicating with them and have achieved some results,” Jaishankar said. “The process is ongoing, and since I have made progress, I will naturally continue to push forward.”

He emphasized that, from India’s perspective, it is better to find solutions through rational communication and cooperation rather than doing nothing. He also revealed that there is no “package agreement” targeting Indian-flagged ships between India and Iran; each passage is handled on a case-by-case basis, and Iran has not gained any benefits from this. The communication is based on a long-standing relationship.

“I am happy to share our approach with (EU member states)… As far as I know, many of them have also engaged in dialogue with Iran,” Jaishankar said.

Regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized at a routine press conference on March 12 that the Strait and nearby waters are important international trade routes for goods and energy, and maintaining regional security and stability aligns with the common interests of the international community. China urges all parties to immediately cease military actions, avoid further escalation of tensions, and prevent regional instability from causing greater impacts on global economic development.

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif, in an interview with CBS on the 15th, said Iran is “open” to discussions with countries that wish to ensure the safe passage of its ships.

“The so-called ‘security umbrella’ that the U.S. brags about is riddled with holes, not only failing to intimidate anyone but also inviting trouble,” Zarif posted on social media platform X on the 14th, mocking that the U.S. is now begging other countries for help to jointly defend the security of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran calls on brotherly neighboring countries to expel foreign invaders, especially since their only concern is Israel.”

This article is an exclusive report by Observer Network. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.