Australia, Japan, and Germany have ruled out sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz, despite US President Donald Trump urging allies and China to help guarantee the safety of the strategic waterway.
Australian Transport Minister Catherine King told ABC that Canberra will not deploy any warships. “We know how important it is, but this is not something requested from us, nor something we will contribute to,” she said.
Japan also rejected participation in a maritime security operation, with Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stating in parliament that Tokyo has no plans to launch or join such an operation amid current conditions in Iran.
German Foreign Minister Johan Wantefuhl echoed the stance, ruling out German involvement and expressing reservations over expanding the EU’s existing mission in the region. He emphasised that only a negotiated solution can ensure the Strait’s security.
President Trump warned in an interview with the Financial Times that NATO’s future could suffer if member states fail to support reopening the Strait. He stressed that countries benefiting from the waterway, including Europe and China, must contribute to safeguarding it.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the US plans to announce this week that several countries have agreed to form a coalition to escort ships through the strait, as tensions with Iran escalate.
Source: CNA
Also read: Trump warns NATO of ‘very bad’ future over Strait of Hormuz
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