Numerous countries have informed the United States that they will help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said.
During a press conference at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump responded to questions about the possible participation of other allied countries in the operation currently being carried out by the United States and Israel.
As he noted, there are countries that are not willing to join his initiative aimed at ensuring the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Many countries told me they are on the way. Some are very enthusiastic… and others are not,” Trump said.
The U.S. president emphasized that some states have already dispatched their vessels, although the transit to the Middle East will take some time.
He refused to name the countries that will assist the United States, though he suggested that France and the United Kingdom could be among them.
He also reminded that among the skeptics are countries that the United States has been helping for many years. As he noted, securing the Strait of Hormuz would be more beneficial for other countries than for the United States itself, which does not use this route to import crude oil.
“The level of enthusiasm matters to me. We strongly encourage other countries to get involved in our initiative and to engage quickly and with full enthusiasm,” Trump said.
“I’m not trying to pressure other countries too much because I don’t need them. We have by far the strongest military in the world. We don’t need them, but it’s interesting. In some cases, I do it because I want to see how they react. For years I’ve been saying that if we ever need them, they won’t be there,” the U.S. president added.