Video: Trump demands allies to protect Strait of Hormuz, says ‘US has a lot of oil’
United States President Donald Trump
Abdullateef Fowewe
United States President, Donald Trump has escalated calls for international action in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, demanding that other nations deploy warships to counter Iranian mines disrupting global oil flows, while questioning America’s presence in the region.
The remarks come days after Iran’s deployment of about a dozen mines on March 11, which prompted US strikes on mine-laying vessels.
The incident threatens 21% of global oil shipments and evokes memories of the 1980s “Tanker War,” amid stalled nuclear talks with Tehran.
Trump insisted that allies like China, heavily reliant on Gulf oil, should take the lead.
“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory.
“It’s the place from which they get their energy. And they should come and they should help us protect it,” he said.
He highlighted America’s energy independence, noting the US produces 13 million barrels per day as the world’s top producer.
“You could make the case that maybe we shouldn’t even be there at all, because we don’t need it. We have a lot of oil.
“Why are we maintaining the Hormuz Strait when it’s really there for China and many other countries? They get massive amounts of oil through there. We get very little. So they should be doing it,” he added.
