Nations Relying on Hormuz Oil Must Help Protect Route

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that other countries should play a greater role in protecting the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that many nations depend on the critical shipping route more than the United States.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said countries that rely heavily on oil shipments passing through the narrow waterway, particularly China, should contribute to safeguarding it.

“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory,” Trump said. “It’s the place from which they get their energy. And they should come and they should help us protect it.”

Trump questioned why the United States should continue bearing the primary responsibility for securing the route, describing the waterway as more important for other economies.

“Why are we maintaining the Hormuz Strait when it’s really there for China and many other countries? Why aren’t they doing it?” he asked.

Trump also claimed that about 90 percent of China’s crude oil imports pass through the strait, while the United States relies on it for only “1% or 2%” of its oil supply.

However, analysts note that Beijing has spent the past two decades diversifying its energy sources and building strategic reserves to reduce its vulnerability to disruptions in the Gulf region.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with a significant share of global oil shipments passing through the narrow channel connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider international markets.