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What have US allies and China said about sending ships to the Strait of Hormuz?

Posted By: Hari Ram Posted On: Mar 18, 2026Share Article

President Donald Trump has said the US does not need the help of other countries in its war against Iran - just days after calling on US allies to help secure the vital Strait of Hormuz.

In a scathing post on his Truth Social platform, he said "most" of America's Nato allies had informed the US they did not want to get involved.

"I am not surprised by their action, however, because I always considered NATO... to be a one way street - We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us," he wrote.

In his original request on 14 March, he had said: "Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships".

The strait has been effectively blocked by Iran, except for a handful of vessels carrying Iranian oil to countries such as India and China, since Israel and the US attacked Iran on 28 February.

Multiple commercial cargo ships in the strait have been hit by "unknown projectiles" during more than two weeks of war, with one person reported killed.

About 20% of the world's oil travels through the passage. Global oil prices rose, and some countries in Asia are taking measures to conserve fuel.

In his post on Tuesday, Trump did not say which Nato states had offered to help but here is what we know about the position taken by some of its more prominent members, as well as China and other countries.

At a news conference on Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said conversations aimed at working out a "viable plan" were ongoing with the US, European and Gulf partners, but that we are "not at the point of decisions yet".

Pressed by the BBC on Sunday whether the UK was considering sending drones or ships to the region, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband responded: "You can rest assured that any options that can help to get the strait reopened are being looked at in concert with our allies."

Refusing to be drawn into operational details, Miliband reiterated that "ending the conflict is the best and surest way to get the strait reopened".

A government spokesman said the war with Iran had "nothing to do with Nato", while Defence Minister Boris Pistorius asked: "What does Trump expect from a handful of European frigates that the powerful US navy cannot do?"

This is not our war. We have not started it.

President Emmanuel Macron has said France is ready to participate in an escort mission for container ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz once the situation is "calmer".

Any such mission "must be entirely separate from the ongoing war operations and bombings", he told a French cabinet meeting on 17 March.

"France has a simple and clear responsibility in the region: to protect our citizens and our interests, to be a reliable partner for everyone, and to work towards de-escalation and stability," he said.

The country's aircraft carrier strike group is currently deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean on a "defensive" mission.

Asked by reporters on Monday whether the country had received a request to send ships and how it would respond, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: "China once again calls on parties to immediately stop military operations, avoid further escalation of the tense situation and prevent regional turmoil from further impacting the global economy."

Jian also said China was "in communication with relevant parties to work for the deescalation of the situation".

On Sunday, the foreign ministry told the BBC the country was "paying close attention" to Trump's remarks and the two countries would continue to "communicate closely and make a decision after careful consideration".

"The Korean government is closely monitoring developments related to the situation in the Middle East and is exploring various measures under comprehensive consideration to protect Korean nationals and ensure the safety of energy transportation routes," the ministry said.

Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back told parliament on Tuesday that sending a warship to the Strait of Hormuz would require parliamentary approval.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday that she had not received a request to dispatch escort ships.

"The Japanese government is currently examining what necessary measures should be taken. Of course, this will be within the Japanese legal framework, but we are proceeding with consideration as to how we can protect the lives of Japanese vessels and their crews, and what can be done in such regards," she said.

Takaichi is due to meet Trump in Washington DC on 19 March.

Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday that "for the time being, there was no appetite" to change the mandate of its current naval mission in the region for now.

"Nobody is ready to put their people in harm's way in the Strait of Hormuz," she told Reuters news agency, adding that "we have to find diplomatic ways to keep this open".

Source: BBC
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