March 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that many countries would send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, but did not provide details on which countries would do so.
Trump urges other nations to help secure shipping through Strait of Hormuz
International Response to Security Threats in the Strait of Hormuz
Trump's Call for Global Naval Support
March 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday called on nations to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for shipping as Iranian forces continue their retaliation campaign amid U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
About a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes through the strait, a narrow passage of water between Iran and Oman. Tehran's ability to stop shipping through the channel could give it enormous leverage over the U.S. and its allies.
Statements from President Trump
"The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. "The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well."
In an earlier post on Saturday, Trump predicted 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."
Trump wrote that he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others would send ships to the area.
"In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water," he wrote.
Reactions from the White House and Western Nations
White House Response
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on whether any countries had agreed to send ships.
Western Military Presence and Actions
Western nations have bolstered their military presence in the eastern Mediterranean during the conflict in Iran, focusing on the security of Cyprus after an Iranian-made drone hit a British military base on the island on March 2.
Britain's Strategic Moves
Britain is also exploring additional options for deployments to the Gulf after Iran stepped up attacks on vessels, defence minister John Healey said on Thursday. The British government is talking to allies and partners about "a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region," a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said on Saturday.
France's Naval Deployment
The French Navy is deploying about a dozen naval vessels, including its aircraft carrier strike group, to the Mediterranean, Red Sea and potentially the Strait of Hormuz as part of defensive support to allies threatened by the conflict.
France has been consulting with European, Asian and Gulf Arab states over the past week with a view to putting together a plan for warships eventually to escort tankers through the strait, French officials said.
U.S. Commitment to Securing the Strait
Trump said on Thursday the U.S. was willing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz to protect them from Iranian attack, as his administration searches for ways to ease high oil prices fuelled by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Toronto and Milana Vinn in New York; Editing by Toby Chopra, Sergio Non, Rod Nickel)
