Trump urges allied navies to escort Hormuz oil tankers; Korea's reliance noted.

On the 16th local time, President Donald Trump urged allied navies to participate in an escort operation for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, telling reporters at the White House that the United States has long supported the security of its allied partners.

Although he did not name Korea directly, Trump cited how much some countries rely on Hormuz for their oil imports, noting that Japan gets about 95% of its oil via Hormuz, China about 90%, and Korea about 35%, with many European nations also dependent on shipments through the strait.

He said the United States had protected these allies from external threats, but that “they were not enthusiastic,” adding that the level of enthusiasm is important to him as the alliance faces pressure over burden-sharing.

The remarks followed a social media post on the 14th in which Trump called on five countries—Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and China—to dispatch warships to Hormuz.

Iran has sought to block Hormuz in response to U.S.-Israeli military actions, a move that has driven up global oil prices. Roughly 20% of global crude shipments pass through Hormuz, underscoring the strait’s strategic significance.

The Hormuz Strait links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a critical chokepoint for world energy flows. The United States maintains a substantial naval presence in the region, including the 5th Fleet based in Bahrain, to safeguard these shipping lanes.

For U.S. readers, the issue matters because disruptions at Hormuz can quickly ripple through energy markets, affecting gasoline prices and inflation, while testing America’s alliances and defense commitments in a volatile region. The broader implications extend to global supply chains and energy security that touch markets and policy from Europe to Asia.