Payam Javan: U.S. President Donald Trump announced that several countries are preparing to deploy warships to support a U.S.-led mission aimed at escorting commercial vessels through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Speaking during a luncheon at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Trump said multiple nations have expressed strong interest in joining the maritime security effort, which is designed to safeguard global shipping routes amid rising regional tensions.

Trump noted that while some allies responded enthusiastically, others have yet to commit forces. He specifically expressed disappointment with key NATO members, including the United Kingdom and Germany, for not responding positively to Washington’s request for a joint naval operation. According to Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined a request to deploy two British aircraft carriers to the Arabian Sea or the eastern Mediterranean.

In contrast, the president praised French President Emmanuel Macron for cooperating with the initiative. Trump said France dispatched an aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean, a move that allowed the USS Gerald Ford to reposition and join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, strengthening U.S. naval presence near the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite seeking allied participation, Trump emphasized that the United States is fully capable of securing the shipping corridor on its own. He stated that the U.S. military remains the most powerful in the world and suggested that part of the initiative is also a test of how allies respond when Washington calls for support in strategic operations.