US President Donald Trump has appealed to NATO allies and partner countries to help ensure the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, BBC notes.
According to the Axios publication, Trump is working to create an international coalition to protect the strait and is considering seizing the critical Iranian island of Kharq.
But according to media reports, Britain, France, Germany and South Korea are not ready to send their warships to the Strait of Hormuz area. In this regard, Washington has to gather a coalition and prepare a plan to unblock the strait literally “on its knees,” the BBC observer notes.
The publication recalls that earlier in an interview with the Financial Times, Donald Trump said that it would be “very bad for the future of NATO” if the alliance allies do not respond to his call.
“We were under no obligation to help them with Ukraine. Ukraine is thousands of kilometers away from us… But we helped them. Now let’s see if they will help us,” the US president said.
Donald Trump also said that he counts on China’s help in unblocking the strait. And emphasized that Beijing is the main beneficiary of the route through the Strait of Hormuz, so it should be interested in the resumption of unimpeded passage of ships through it.
The U.S. president noted that he may postpone his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping if Beijing does not participate in efforts to protect sea lanes in the region,
“Countries that benefit from trade through the strait should help keep it safe,” Trump told the Financial Times.
