Trump Calls for International Naval Task Force to Secure the Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump called on allied nations to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran entered its third week. Trump stated on Truth Social that countries receiving oil through the strait must take responsibility for securing it. South Korea's government in Seoul said it was carefully evaluating the request. Iran, meanwhile, warned other countries to avoid any action that would extend the conflict.

Trump said he had already received commitments from several countries willing to contribute to securing the waterway, according to Reuters. He also threatened further strikes on Iran's Kharg Island, claiming previous strikes had totally demolished much of it. France was reported to be planning a naval deployment in support of allies involved in the conflict. The calls for allied naval participation reflect concern over the potential disruption to global energy supplies passing through the chokepoint.

The Strait of Hormuz is the only sea passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, making it a critical artery for global energy markets. About a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes through the strait. Control over or disruption of this passage has long been a central concern in geopolitical tensions involving Iran and Western powers. Iran has previously threatened to close the strait during periods of heightened tension with the United States.

Iran's warning, reported by ANSA on March 15, 2026, called on third-party nations to refrain from steps that could broaden the ongoing conflict. Tehran's position placed countries considering compliance with Trump's request in a difficult diplomatic position, caught between U.S. pressure and Iranian deterrence. South Korea, which relies heavily on Gulf oil imports, confirmed through its government in Seoul that it was carefully assessing the implications of Trump's call. The Austrian news outlet newsORF.at reported restraint among some potential participants regarding a possible deployment to the strait. The divergence in responses among allied governments illustrated the complexity of assembling a multilateral naval presence in a contested and volatile waterway.

„The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!” — Donald Trump via Reuters

The broader military situation involved U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and Iranian retaliatory missile and drone strikes, with the conflict having begun approximately three weeks before mid-March 2026. Trump's threat to strike Kharg Island again added pressure on Tehran and signaled a potential escalation in the targeting of Iranian energy infrastructure. The prospect of mines or other Iranian countermeasures in the strait was also raised in analysis published by Courrier International, which examined how Iran could use such tactics to reinforce its leverage over the passage. No confirmed information was available on the precise number of nations that had formally committed to sending warships as of March 15, 2026. The situation remained fluid, with diplomatic and military developments continuing to unfold across multiple fronts.