In a Financial Times interview published on March 15, US President Donald Trump warned NATO allies they could face a “very bad future” if they don’t help secure the Strait of Hormuz. He urged European countries that benefit from Gulf oil shipments to support efforts to reopen the key waterway, stating that they should help protect it.
“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump said. “If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”
European governments have responded cautiously to Trump’s repeated pressure to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he is “very skeptical” that expanding the EU’s naval mission would boost security, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain is “working with allies” on a plan following Trump’s call.
Tensions have been escalating in the Strait of Hormuz since 2019, when multiple international incidents occurred in the vital maritime corridor. Indeed, around one fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas and about 20% of total global oil consumption passes through this narrow waterway, which links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. The region is also a popular tourist destination, with numerous cruise ships also following the strait's busy shipping lanes.
Following the US-Israel military strikes on February 28, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response, effectively blocking the passage of all vessels and suspending shipments of crude oil, fuel, and liquefied natural gas. This immediately affected the world's daily oil supply and triggered increases in energy prices around the world.
To discover more about the Strait of Hormuz and its importance, click through this gallery.