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US allies reject Trump’s appeal to send warships to Strait of Hormuz | BBC News

2026-03-16 News & Politics
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US allies have rejected President Trump’s appeal for them to send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas usually passes. Iran has closed the key sea lane in response to US and Israeli airstrikes, attacking ships with drones and missiles, leading to a sharp increase in global oil and gas prices and warnings of soaring inflation and an international economic crisis. The British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK would not be “drawn into the wider war”. He said: “Ultimately, we have to reopen the strait of Hormuz” and did not rule out any form of action, but she aid it would have to be agreed by as “many partners as possible”. That led President Trump to again criticise Sir Keir’s response to the war, saying he had thought the UK was the “Rolls Royce of allies” but was disappointed by the lack of support. European countries have turned down the callas for help from the US president, despite threats from Donald Trump hat Nato faces “a very bad future” if members fail to help reopen the vital waterway. Germany ruled out participation in any military activity, saying it had not been a joint decision to launch military action against Iran. The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “That is why the question of how Germany might contribute militarily does not arise. We will not do so”. Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said “diplomacy needs to prevail”. France, along with Japan and Australia, has also said it does not plan to send warships to the region. US allies also expressed concern over the situation in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have begun ground operations against what they say are Hezbollah strongholds in the south of the country, after days of airstrikes. Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Chris Mason, Jonathan Beale and Jeremy Bowen. Subscribe to our channel here: https://bbc.in/bbcnews For the latest news download the BBC News app or visit BBC.com/news #BBCNews

Top Comments (10)

@c.o.2263 2026-03-16

Send your own troops into the trap you’ve created! Send Barron! 🫵

1.8k 89 replies
@thatoneguy8064 2026-03-16

did he even say please and thank you?

1.7k 56 replies
@ericcartman321 2026-03-17

“The person who clogged the toilet is the one who has to unclog it.” 😂

902 31 replies
@nmarks 2026-03-17

The hardest part of a three day operation is the first four years.

632 9 replies
@Rice_Cake_ 2026-03-17

Funny thing about burning bridges, you can't go back across them.

630 27 replies
@Yin_Yang_69 2026-03-17

Didn't he say that the U.S. had won the war and others needn't send warships?

482 20 replies
@AmineOuldKaci 2026-03-17

"Why do you have to meet with a team? You're the prime minister" This right here, should tell you that you're dealing with a dictator.

427 22 replies
@logosmaxima2775 2026-03-17

How'd those tariffs sound now

321 6 replies
@doorn37 2026-03-17

'you don't have the cards, Donnie '....'you don't have the cards '

119 5 replies
@FirstRealAmerican 2026-03-17

He should get Melania to help escort the ships. She has years of experience with escorting.

64 4 replies

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