US President Donald Trump has urged European allies to help protect oil supplies in the Persian Gulf strait, warning that NATO’s future is at risk if they don’t comply. The US president claims that Iran’s blockade of the strait has caused the largest oil supply disruption in history and soaring global oil prices.
Trump has appealed to countries like Australia, France, Japan, and the UK to send ships to the strait to protect commercial shipping vessels and unblock global oil supplies. However, so far, only Japan has taken action by dipping into its oil reserves to alleviate supply concerns.
The US energy secretary says that the conflict will “certainly come to an end in the next few weeks” as oil prices are expected to drop once it’s over. But Iran’s foreign minister disputes this claim, saying that Tehran is ready to defend itself and doesn’t see a reason to talk with the US.
The situation has sparked concerns among European allies, who have expressed caution about sending ships to the strait due to the volatile nature of the conflict. Japan’s prime minister has stated that her country will not dispatch naval vessels to escort ships in the Middle East, citing its own energy security concerns.
The blockade on the strait has caused widespread disruptions to global energy supplies, driving up oil prices and threatening regional stability. As tensions continue to rise, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s appeals will succeed in securing international support for NATO’s efforts to protect the strait.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/16/strait-of-hormuz-australia-japan-no-ships