«Данное сообщение (материал) создано и (или) распространено иностранным средством массовой информации, выполняющим функции иностранного агента, и (или) российским юридическим лицом, выполняющим функции иностранного агента»
Topic: Naval Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Middle East Tags: Iran, Iran War, NATO, Operation Epic Fury, Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, United Kingdom, and United States NATO Should Help Keep Strait of Hormuz Open, Trump Says March 17, 2026 By: Peter Suciu
Share
Trump launched “Operation Epic Fury” without consulting Europe—and has vacillated between asking for European nations’ support and rebuffing it.
As oil prices rise and fears grow that the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a recession, President Donald Trump called on NATO allies to help secure the critical waterway, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil travels.
Trump suggested that Europe and Asia would benefit more from the vital shipping route’s reopening than the United States, and that other countries needed to help ensure the waterway remains open to commercial traffic.
“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory. It’s the place from which they get their energy. And they should come, and they should help us protect it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. “Why are we maintaining the Hormuz Strait when it’s really there for China and many other countries? Why aren’t they doing it?”
On Monday, Beijing responded by calling for an end to the US military operation, warning that prolonged conflict in the Middle East would have a greater impact on the global economy.
Trump Wants NATO’s Help on Hormuz—but NATO Has Other Ideas
In an interview with The Financial Times, Trump warned that it would be “very bad” if US allies didn’t play a role in opening the Strait of Hormuz.
“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump told the British outlet. “If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”
The US president argued that NATO should provide support because the US has supported NATO.
“We’ve been very sweet. We didn’t have to help them with Ukraine. Ukraine is thousands of miles away from us. But we helped them,” Trump said. “Now we’ll see if they help us. Because I’ve long said that we’ll be there for them, but they won’t be there for us. And I’m not sure that they’d be there.”
The American president is correct that Europe is much more dependent on oil from the Gulf states than America is, but NATO may expect something in return.
Edward Fishman, a director at the Council on Foreign Relations, said in an interview with CNBC on Monday that Trump did not consult allies in Europe or Asia before launching military action against Iran. It is only after oil prices spiked that Trump has even suggested that NATO help is required.
“Remember, these countries, despite being US allies, have been hit with really steep tariffs by the Trump administration over the last year,” Fishman said.
The UK Is Helping America with Hormuz Minesweeping
Although no country has committed to sending warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open—an action that could be interpreted by Iran as a declaration of war—the United Kingdom is now considering deploying autonomous systems, notably mine-hunting drones, to help address a major threat to commercial shipping.
In addition, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) is exploring options to deploy interceptor drones to counter Iran’s unmanned aerial systems (UAS), notably its advanced Shahed drones.
“We are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region,” the British government told Sky News.
These announcements come after Trump dismissed the need for the UK’s Royal Navy to deploy any warships to the region—claiming that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had made the offer only after the United States had already won the war. But Iran and the IRGC, which have continued attacks against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after Trump’s declaration, apparently feel otherwise.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
The post NATO Should Help Keep Strait of Hormuz Open, Trump Says appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org