LONDON: Several key US allies including Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom have said they currently have no plans to deploy naval ships to help secure the strategic Strait of Hormuz, despite growing pressure from US President Donald Trump.
The waterway, a critical route for global energy supplies, has been largely disrupted after Iran blocked tanker traffic in retaliation for airstrikes by the United States and Israel.
Trump said Washington had contacted several countries to assist in protecting shipping through the strait, which carries about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. However, he did not disclose the full list of countries approached.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump urged oil-importing nations to help safeguard the passage.
“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory because it is the place from which they get their energy,” he said.
Japan cautious over military involvement
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament that Tokyo had not made any decision to dispatch naval escort ships to the Middle East and confirmed that Washington had not made a formal request for assistance.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said sending warships under current conditions was not under consideration, noting that overseas deployment of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces remains politically sensitive.
Japan imports about 90 percent of its oil from the Middle East, with nearly 70 percent passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
In response to supply concerns, Tokyo has begun releasing oil reserves for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Australia and Europe also reluctant
Australia has also rejected sending naval ships to the region. Transport Minister Catherine King said Canberra had not been asked to contribute vessels and had no plans to do so.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom said it was considering alternative measures, including the deployment of aerial mine-detection systems to help clear explosives from the waterway rather than sending warships.
France has similarly ruled out deploying additional military forces to the strait, stressing that its priority is maintaining regional stability.
Oil prices surge as conflict continues
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a sharp rise in global energy prices, with oil trading above $104 per barrel as the conflict enters its third week.
The strait serves as a crucial corridor for global oil shipments, and disruptions have raised fears of a prolonged energy crisis affecting markets worldwide.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that Tehran was not seeking negotiations with Washington but remained prepared to defend itself amid ongoing airstrikes.
The conflict has also disrupted regional air travel, with operations temporarily halted at Dubai International Airport following a drone-related incident near the facility.