Trump wants to secure trade with warships

Iran war

Trump wants to secure trade with warships – who else?

The consequences of the Iran war are felt worldwide, also because an important trade route has become an incalculable risk for ships. Trump expects help from affected countries. But will they join in?

The passage of the Strait of Hormuz, which is so important for oil transport, has become an incalculable risk for merchant ships due to the threat of attacks in the Iran war. US President Donald Trump is now relying on the help of other countries – and expects support from China, France, Japan, South Korea, Great Britain and other countries that get their oil via the Strait of Hormuz. But what do the governments of these countries say about this – and what is the German position?

There is still no reaction from Beijing to Trump’s announcement that other states besides the USA could send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.

The strait is strategically important for China because the People’s Republic receives a large part of its oil imports from the Middle East through this bottleneck. Shortly after the fighting began, the Foreign Ministry declared that the security of the shipping route must be guaranteed. Energy security is of great importance to the global economy and all sides should ensure stable supplies. “China will take necessary measures to maintain its energy security,” Beijing said.

Experts believe it is more likely that China will try to influence its partner Iran through diplomatic channels rather than having a military presence itself.

France itself has brought an escort service for merchant ships into play. After deliberations by the G7 group of large industrial nations, which France chairs this year, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that the G7 countries wanted to make the Strait of Hormuz navigable again for merchant shipping by having oil tankers and cargo ships escorted.

However, he restricted that the conditions for this do not currently exist. “The strait is a theater of war, but this work must be organized,” Macron said. In order to guarantee such escorts, the coordination of several navies and several weeks of preparatory work is necessary. In addition to France and the USA, the G7 countries also include Germany, Japan, Canada, Great Britain and Italy.

Macron had previously promised a defensive deployment to accompany container ships and tankers, but he also meant the period after the hottest phase of the war and did not give any further details. France has deployed three large warships to the region. The French Foreign Ministry said these are still in the eastern Mediterranean. The Élysée Palace did not initially respond to a request as to how France would respond to Trump’s request.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her government is examining what measures it can take within legal limits to ensure the safety of Japanese ships and their crews in the Middle East. A senior official in her ruling party called for a “prudent” decision regarding the deployment of Japan’s Self-Defense Force. They don’t have their name for nothing, as their operations abroad are restricted by Japan’s pacifist post-war constitution. The government has expanded its role abroad through security laws that came into force in 2016. But sending troops to areas where they could be involved in hostilities remains controversial.