Trump says some countries are not enthusiastic about helping unblock Hormuz strait

Record ID: 2365606

  • Title: Trump says some countries are not enthusiastic about helping unblock Hormuz strait
  • Date: 16th March 2026
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYING: "Our powerful military campaign to end the threats posed by the Iranian regime continued in full force over the past few days. They have been literally obliterated. The Air Force is gone. The Navy is gone. Many, many ships have been sunk, they're war-fighting ships. But I guess they didn't know how to use them. And a
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Iran crisis Iran oil Iran war Trump Iran Trump Strait of Hormuz Trump Venezuela Trump countries not helping Trump oil Trump paper tiger Iran Washington Iran countries unethusiastic
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: North America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA002454216032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday (March 16) repeated his call to nations to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, and complained that some were not very enthusiastic about providing help to Washington.
    Trump wants nations to help police the strait after Iran responded to U.S.-Israeli attacks by using drones, missiles and mines to ‌effectively close the channel for tankers that usually transport a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas.
    "Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren't. Some are countries that we've helped for many, many years. We've protected them from horrible outside sources, and they weren't that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm matters to me," Trump said at an event at the White House.
    He also said some nations did say they would be willing to help but Trump did not utter the names of any countries.
    Trump added that the U.S. relationship with Venezuela has been 'fantastic'.
    "Millions, literally millions of barrels of oil are being taken out. And it's been of great help. And it's been to their great benefit. The president has done a really good job. We get along with them really well, " Trump said. 
    U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have jolted global energy markets, sending ​oil prices higher and raising gasoline costs for U.S. consumers. The surge threatens to complicate Trump's domestic economic ​agenda and could weigh on Republican prospects in November midterm elections.
    Several U.S. allies said on Monday they had no immediate plans to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
    Germany, Spain and Italy were among allies that ruled out participating in any mission in the Gulf, at least for now. Other countries were more circumspect, with Britain and Denmark saying they would consider ways they might help, but emphasizing a need to de-escalate and avoid getting dragged into the war. France has said it will probably help.
    (Production: Colette Luke)
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