‘We will remember’: Trump warns countries to help secure Strait of Hormuz as shipping stalls

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that other countries should help the U.S. secure the Strait of Hormuz, arguing the key shipping route benefits them more than it does Washington.

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said countries such as China, which rely more heavily on oil shipments passing through the strait, should contribute to securing it.

“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory. It’s the place from which they get their energy. And they should come and they should help us protect it,” Trump said.

“Why are we maintaining the Hormuz Strait when it’s really there for China and many other countries? Why aren’t they doing it?”

Trump claimed that about 90% of China’s crude imports pass through the strait, while the U.S. only relies on it for “1%, 2%” of its oil. However, analysts say Beijing has spent the past two decades diversifying energy supplies and building strategic reserves to mitigate potential disruptions.

Asked on Monday about Trump’s comments regarding China and the Strait of Hormuz, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated Beijing’s stance calling on all parties to immediately halt military operations and to avoid any further escalation of tensions to prevent regional instability from exerting an even greater impact on the global economy, news agency Xinhua reported.

Oil prices hovered around the $100 per barrel Monday, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures trading at $99.32 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent was at $104.84.

Edward Fishman, a director at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the Trump administration did not consult allies in Europe or Asia before launching military action against Iran.

Those allies are much more dependent on oil imports from the Gulf than the U.S. is, Fishman told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia,” raising questions about whether they would expect concessions from Washington in return for assistance.

“Remember, these countries, despite being U.S. allies, have been hit with really steep tariffs by the Trump administration over the last year,” Fishman said Monday.

He added that if the tables were turned, Trump would likely demand something in return for assistance.

Trump’s latest comments followed earlier remarks on Truth Social, where he claimed Saturday that “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.”