U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that NATO could face a “very bad” future if allied nations do not assist in reopening and securing the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
In comments published by the Financial Times, Trump said countries that benefit from the key shipping route should contribute to keeping it open.
“I think China should help too because China gets 90% of its oil from the Straits,” Trump said, adding that he would prefer to know Beijing’s position before his planned visit to China.
He also suggested that a scheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing later this month could be delayed.
“We may delay,” Trump said when referring to the planned trip.
The remarks come as U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held talks in Paris as part of ongoing efforts to stabilize trade relations and prepare for Trump’s proposed visit to Beijing.
Trump said countries benefiting from the strategic waterway should help protect it.
“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” he told the newspaper.
On Saturday, Trump called on several nations including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom to send naval vessels to the region to help maintain open shipping routes.
He indicated that assistance could include minesweepers and other military assets capable of countering naval mines and drone threats.
“We’re hitting them very hard,” Trump said of Iranian forces, adding that Iran was attempting to create disruption in the Strait following recent military strikes.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical energy routes, with around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through the narrow waterway.
Iran effectively shut the strait after the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iranian targets more than two weeks ago.
Trump also warned that the United States could launch further strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s primary oil export hub.
“We can hit that in five minutes, and there’s not a thing they can do about it,” he said.
The U.S. president also criticized Britain’s response after speaking with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying London was slow to respond to calls for assistance.
“The UK might be considered the number one ally, and when I asked them to come, they didn’t want to come,” Trump said, adding that Britain offered support only after U.S. operations had already weakened Iran’s military capacity.
The White House and China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump said he hopes China will take action to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz before his expected visit to Beijing at the end of March, noting that the country relies heavily on oil shipments passing through the route.
Source: BBC.
