U.S. President, Donald Trump, has called on countries that rely on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to deploy naval forces to keep the strategic waterway open as tensions escalate between Iran and Western allies.
Trump made the call in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, noting that the United States would coordinate efforts to ensure smooth and safe shipping.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, with roughly one fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through it.
Trump said several countries could send naval vessels to support the effort, including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
He said these deployments would work alongside U.S. forces to ensure the waterway remains open and secure amid ongoing attacks linked to the escalating conflict involving Iran.
Trump also indicated that the U.S. military could intensify operations in the region, including targeting Iranian coastal positions and vessels if threats to shipping persist.
Western countries have already begun strengthening their military presence in parts of the eastern Mediterranean as the conflict unfolds.
According to the UK’s Ministry of Defence, the British government is currently consulting with allies and partners on a range of options aimed at protecting commercial shipping routes and maintaining maritime security in the region.
Earlier on Saturday, the U.S. Central Command disclosed that it executed a large-scale precision strike on Kharg Island in Iran on Friday night but did not hit the oil infrastructure in the region.
In Nigeria, the price volatility has seen prices of petroleum change three times within the past week.