US President Donald Trump has criticised several Western allies for refusing to send warships to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions.
“Some allies are showing ingratitude by not stepping forward to protect a vital global energy route,” he said today (March 17) while responding to questions from reporters.
The criticism comes as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues into its third week with no clear end in sight, intensifying instability across the Middle East.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows, remains largely closed, pushing up energy prices and raising fears of inflation.
Several US allies, including Germany, Spain and Italy, have said they have no immediate plans to send naval vessels to help reopen and secure the strategic waterway.
Iran has effectively restricted movement through the strait using drones and naval mines, increasing risks for commercial shipping and energy supplies.
“We lack the mandate from the United Nations, the European Union or NATO required under the Basic Law,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Berlin, adding that Washington and Israel had not consulted Germany before launching the war.
Trump, speaking at a White House event in Washington, said many countries had told him they were prepared to help but voiced frustration with some long‑standing allies.
“Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren’t,” he said, without offering specifics. “Some are countries that we’ve helped for many, many years. We’ve protected them from horrible outside sources, and they weren’t that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm matters to me.”
