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Former US President Donald Trump has called on the United Kingdom and other countries to contribute warships to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route for Middle Eastern oil exports. Trump expressed hope that nations including China, France, Japan, and South Korea would join the effort amid a surge in attacks on tankers in the area, linked to the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Since the hostilities began two weeks ago, multiple vessels have reportedly come under assault in this strategically important waterway.
In reaction to Trump’s appeal, the UK Ministry of Defence stated that it is exploring various options alongside international partners to maintain the security of shipping lanes in the region. Tehran, however, has made clear its intention to continue blocking the Strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply typically transits. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to affirm that “many countries” would deploy naval forces in cooperation with the United States to ensure the passage remains open and safe.
Trump asserted that Iran’s military capabilities were “100% destroyed” but cautioned that Tehran could still execute limited attacks, such as deploying drones, mines, or short-range missiles targeting vessels in the strait. He urged nations affected by the disruption caused by Iran to send ships, emphasizing, “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated.” He also vowed ongoing US military action to eliminate Iranian threats and reopen the waterway.
Meanwhile, Iran has warned that any attacks against its critical oil infrastructure on Kharg Island would result in the immediate destruction of energy facilities operated by American companies. Tehran has escalated its assaults on Gulf energy assets as a key retaliatory measure in response to US and Israeli strikes. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that sixteen vessels have been targeted around the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict’s onset on February 28, yet even the US Navy is not currently providing convoy escorts for tankers navigating the narrow passage.
Although Trump had earlier criticized the UK leadership for not participating in initial strikes against Iran, the British government eventually authorized defensive US operations to be conducted from RAF bases. The Royal Navy’s sole warship designated for the region, HMS Dragon, has recently deployed to Cyprus to support RAF Akrotiri after drone attacks. The UK no longer maintains minesweeping vessels in the Gulf following the withdrawal of HMS Middleton. British politicians remain divided over further military involvement, with some affirming that decisions must be made in the UK’s national interest and subject to parliamentary approval. France’s president has expressed conditional willingness to contribute warships to escort missions, but only after the conflict’s most intense phase is over
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