Strait of Hormuz: Why did Donald Trump say: This would be 'very bad' for NATO's future? What assistance he expects from China?
The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a major challenge for President Donald Trump amidst the escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Despite his appeal to send warships, European and other nations have not yet shown any significant interest.
Consequently, on Sunday, Trump issued a warning to European nations, stating that if they do not assist in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, it would be 'very bad' for the future of NATO.
He reiterated this point while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from Florida.
Trump expressed hope that China would assist
Trump expressed hope that China would assist in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open prior to his proposed meeting with the Chinese President in Beijing later this month. He noted that China "receives 90 percent of its oil through this very strait."
The meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing is scheduled for late March; however, Trump stated that he wants China to take action before then, as the meeting is still two weeks away—which he described as a 'long time.'
He also mentioned that his visit to China could potentially be postponed, although he did not provide any further specific details regarding this.
Trump had issued an appeal
Trump's remarks came just one day after he issued an appeal urging China, Australia, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to join a "shared effort" to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
Iran has effectively blockaded the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which serves as the sole transit route for 20 percent of the world's oil trade.
As a result, oil prices hovered around the $100 mark on Monday. Experts in the oil trade sector warn that if this conflict drags on, oil prices could rise even further. Amidst this conflict, rising oil prices are mounting domestic pressure on Trump; consequently, last week, the U.S. gave the green light to several countries—including India—to purchase Russian oil that is currently loaded on ships, which remain stranded at sea due to sanctions.