Will Asia-Pacific nations help the US reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
Will Asia-Pacific nations help the US reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
01:21
President Donald Trump said the US has had “some positive response” after reaching out to countries to to seek assistance to secure the vital Strait of Hormuz.
“They were contacted today and last night, but we’ve had some positive response. We had a few that would rather not get involved,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday. He did not name the countries his administration contacted.
Several countries have reacted to Trump’s call, but did not commit to sending ships to the strait, which has been effectively closed since the war began.
Here’s what they have said:
China has made no mention of sending ships to the strait but expressed alarm at the conflict, hours after Trump urged Beijing to help. When asked about Trump saying he could postpone a planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday: “Head-of-state diplomacy plays an indispensable role in providing strategic guidance to China-US relations.” He added that the two sides remain in communication regarding the summit.
Japan is currently not planning to send ships, said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. “We have not yet made any decisions regarding the dispatch of naval vessels. We are currently examining what Japan can do independently within our legal framework,” she told parliament on Monday.
Australia will not be sending ships. “We know how incredibly important that is, but that’s not something that we’ve been asked or that we’re contributing to,” said Transport Minister Catherine King on Monday.
South Korea will carefully review Trump’s request, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing a statement from its presidential office. “We will communicate closely with the US regarding this matter and make a decision after careful review.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said on Sunday the United Kingdom is exploring “any options” to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. He did not offer details but said “there are different ways that we could contribute” and that those options were being looked at with allies.
