U.S. President Donald Trump looks on before boarding Air Force One for travel to Florida, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., March 13, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
KEVIN LAMARQUE
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that many countries would send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for shipping, but did not provide details on which countries would do so.
“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,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Trump seeks allies for sea patrols
Trump said he hoped that China, France, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom and others would send ships to the area.
“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,” he wrote.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether any countries had agreed to send ships.
Drone strike heightens tensions near Cyprus
Western nations have bolstered their military presence in the eastern Mediterranean during the conflict in Iran, focusing on the security of Cyprus after an Iranian-made drone hit a British military base on the island on March 2.
Britain is also exploring additional options for deployments to the Gulf after Iran stepped up attacks on vessels, defence minister John Healey said on Thursday. The British government is talking to allies and partners about “a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region,” a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said on Saturday.
French carrier group moves to region
The French Navy is deploying about a dozen naval vessels, including its aircraft carrier strike group, to the Mediterranean, Red Sea and potentially the Strait of Hormuz as part of defensive support to allies threatened by the conflict.
France has been consulting with European, Asian and Gulf Arab states over the past week with a view to putting together a plan for warships eventually to escort tankers through the strait, French officials said.
Trump said on Thursday the U.S. was willing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz to protect them from Iranian attack, as his administration searches for ways to ease high oil prices fuelled by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Published on March 14, 2026
