Several countries have expressed skepticism, caution, or declined to immediately participate in a US-led coalition to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure shipping amidst the 2026 crisis, despite demands from the Trump administration to do so.
In a contradictory post on Truth Social on Saturday, President Trump announced that the Iran military had been completely destroyed and “many countries” will send war ships to patrol the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, suggesting that its military is still capable of fighting back.
“Many countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending war ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” wrote Trump. “We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close-range missile somewhere along, or in, this waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are.”
“Hopefully” China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and other countries “affected by this artificial constraint, will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated. In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline and continually shooting Iranian boats and ships out of the water.”
Trump and his cabinet members have suggested the idea of using escorts through the strait before and Trump wants other countries to provide the escorts. Such a move would put both cargo ships and escorts in direct danger of drone and missile strikes deployed by Iran. Retired Navy Rear Adm. and former Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said on MS NOW’s Morning Joe, that a naval escort is “not necessarily a guaranteed success.”
“Drones can fly low and slow, they can fly fast and low, and they can do a lot of damage even to one ship with the Navy not being able to knock it out of the sky,” said Kirby.
Following Trumps demand for assistance in the Strait, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed deep skepticism, arguing that extending the European Union's naval mission (Aspides) to the Strait of Hormuz would not provide greater security, noting the mission has not been effective in the Red Sea, and further indicated that Germany would not take an active role in what could become a direct conflict.
French officials, while stating that warships might eventually be sent to the region, maintained a cautious, independent approach from the US initiative, focusing on de-escalation and maintaining diplomatic contact with Iran. Australia Minister Catherine King made it clear that country doesn’t want to be involved, stating, “We won’t be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz.”
While not fully ruling it out, Japan has expressed a reluctance, citing a high legal threshold under its pacifist constitution to deploy the military for such missions.
South Korea and the United Kingdom are monitoring the situation and considering options but have not committed to sending ships.
For the most part, European officials have stated doubts that expanding naval patrols and sending escorts can effectively counter Iranian drones, mines, and fastattack boats in the narrow waterway. Meanwhile, based on reports, Trump has urged China to help with the Strait of Hormuz disruptions, claiming he had 'some positive response' while simultaneously calling on other nations to protect their own shipping interests amid the conflict. Critics and analysts argue that this approach highlights a, 'show of force in the Middle East [that] creates a weakness China can exploit,'.
While Trump argued that countries reliant on Middle East oil should protect it, some nations are exploring diplomatic alternatives through direct talks with Tehran. India has secured passage for its tankers through such talks.