Trump says U.S. no longer needs naval support from NATO allies, S. Korea or Japan to help secure Strait of Hormuz

▲ U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a board meeting of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts in the East Room of the White House in Washington on March 16, 2026, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)

Trump-Hormuz Strait

Trump says U.S. no longer needs naval support from NATO allies, S. Korea or Japan to help secure Strait of Hormuz

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States no longer needs naval assistance from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, South Korea, Japan or Australia to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing "military success" in ongoing operations against Iran.

Trump made the remarks in a social media post after calling on allies and partners to help reopen the strait that has been effectively closed by the ongoing war between the U.S., Israel and Iran. The crucial waterway carries about one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

"Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer 'need,' or desire, the NATO Countries' assistance -- WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!"

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