U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States expects to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “fairly soon,” though he acknowledged the process would be difficult and offered few details.
Speaking to reporters before departing Joint Base Andrews, Trump noted that other countries have expressed willingness to assist but did not specify which nations.
“Other countries use the strait, so we do have other countries coming up, and they’ll help out,” Trump said. “It won’t be easy… but we will have that open fairly soon.”
The strategic waterway has been effectively blocked by Iran since the escalation of conflict, triggering what analysts describe as the most severe disruption to global energy supplies in history. The strait is a critical chokepoint, handling around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Trump has also raised concerns over the lack of support from NATO allies in securing the passage.
According to earlier reports, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged European governments to provide concrete commitments to assist in safeguarding the vital shipping route.
The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks on Israel and U.S. bases across Gulf states. The broader regional violence, including Israeli operations in Lebanon, has resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.
Despite Trump’s announcement of a fragile ceasefire with Tehran earlier this week, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains largely stalled, continuing to fuel volatility in global oil markets.
