As Trump presses allies on Hormuz support, reopening hurdles mount
Key European allies have balked at Trump’s request to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, raising doubts about how quickly the US can secure the waterway from Iranian missile and drone threats.
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Monday hinted that he may urge Congress to limit existing US support for allied countries that don’t send military forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, upping the ante as the benchmark global price of oil hovered above $100 per barrel.
What happened: Speaking to reporters in the East Room of the White House on Monday, Trump said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio “will be announcing” a list of countries that have agreed to his public request over the weekend to send military forces to the strait, without specifying which had agreed.
“They’re coming already. They’ve already started to get there,” Trump told reporters. “Some are very enthusiastic, and some are less than enthusiastic. And I assume some will not do it,” he said.
Several of the US’ closest allies have publicly declined Trump’s request, which he announced on Saturday amid rising domestic criticism over Iran’s continued ability to threaten commercial oil and gas shipping through Hormuz.
