Trump says that he's asked 'about 7' countries to join coalition to police Iran's Strait of Hormuz

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 10:07 PM EDT, March 15, 2026


CAIRO (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has demanded about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, but his appeals have brought no commitments as oil prices soar during the Iran war.

The president declined to name the countries heavily reliant on Middle East crude that the administration is negotiating with to join a coalition to police the waterway where about one-fifth the world’s traded oil normally flows.

“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their own territory,” Trump said about the strait, claiming the shipping channel is not something the United States needs because of its own access to oil. Trump spoke while answering reporters’ questions as he flew back to Washington from Florida aboard Air Force One.

Trump said China gets about 90% of its oil from the strait, while the U.S. gets a minimal amount. He declined to discuss whether China will join the coalition.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-trump-march-15-2026-9bbed3c906146844be08fdfd02595754?__vfz=medium%3Dstandalone_top_pages

[wcmagumba]

1. Please stroke out or step down (or both) putz...

[Roy Rolling]

2. How Much Did they Ask?

How much were they asking “Mr. Art of the Deal? to pay them? They aren’t suckers like he’d call them if they did it for nothing.

[DemMedic]

3. So, the guy that has abused all of our allies....

Is now demanding they help him fight a war that he started on behalf of Israel and Epstein.

[Irish_Dem]

21. Places tariffs, threatens invasion, now wants their help.

They are supposed to spend their tax dollars and military lives for Trump's crime spree.

[Whip-poor-will]

5. Action Reaction

Sow the wind reap the whirlwind ....isn't that in trump's bible too?

[AZJonnie]

6. Guess what Diaper Don? China is a dictatorship, and a large % of the population grew up in a time where

China was poor AF. If China's oil supply gets drastically cut, their population will mostly suck it up as they're told they must, and a command-and-control government will rearrange their economy to deal with it. They also generally have better public transportation systems than the US, does, esp. the electrically powered kind. The Chinese government will spend what it has to to keep people at their jobs, and they'll find other places to buy the oil by overpaying if need be. Like Canada, perhaps, who supplies the US with a LOOOOT of oil we NEED. Canada and China seem to be on some PRETTY good terms of late.

In the USA, however? People get really pissed about economic collapses and vote out the party that brings them on. Trump is in more political danger than Xi. And the USA under the GQP will just let it all crumble rather than do anything that might accidentally give free money to brown people, or that appears vaguely "socialist".

Also, point of fact, the USA remains a NET CRUDE IMPORTER and there's no short-term way out of that reality. US refineries will end up paying more for oil just like the rest of the world, DONNIE. The fact we don't get much from the ME proper doesn't erase the fact they the USA has to find 5.5-6M barrels a DAY from OTHER countries, and pay the prevailing world price for it.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. "and they'll find other places to buy the oil"

Russia (since "dear leader" removed the sanctions on their oil exports).

[IronLionZion]

15. China's extensive electrification can help them ride this out better than the US

Most MAGA in the USA love their big trucks/SUVs and drive a hell of a lot more than other countries.

Asia has been dealing with high oil prices for a very long time so they have diversified their economies quite a bit already.

[thesquanderer]

39. Yes. Oil is fungible. When others have to get their oil from where we get it, it will impact us just the same. (n/t)

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Kind of a difference between 'asking' and 'I'm demanding'.

[MLWR]

9. There is a huge difference between acting and demanding

but Krasnov thinks he's the Emperor of the Universe and he doesn't have to ask; he just has to order and everyone must obey. Or else.

[ms liberty]

10. Great leaders gather their allies BEFORE they start a World War, you fucking imbecile.

Maybe you should have kept some of the real warriors (you know, the ones with a chest full of EARNED medals) and left the drunk teevee show host where he belongs.

[Lonestarblue]

11. What these countries should do is cancel all Trump and Kushner contracts for luxury resorts unless Trump stops the war.

Hitting the orange Caligula in the pocketbook is the only message he understands.

[Irish_Dem]

22. Everyone is too afraid of Trump to stand up to him.

I would be shocked if anyone did the right thing.

[Javaman]

12. then it will be 10 countries, then it will be many countries...

and finally it will probably be one russian scow.

[rizlaplus]

13. And....

Netanyahu can count these 7 countries on one hand.

[Prairie Gates]

35. That's a deep cut

[Dan]

14. I am just wondering when Iran will target all Trump named

Last edited Mon Mar 16, 2026, 01:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Properties all around the world. I'll bet he'll shit a brick then.

[travelingthrulife]

31. This. What made them think their international properties are safe?

I wouldn't be anywhere near any of his properties for quite a while.

[truthisfreedom]

16. "Hey guys, I just whacked this hornet's nest as hard as I could"

“And now everybody’s getting stung. Fix it for me.”

[Ray Bruns]

17. Trump has named some of the countries this morning!

1. Freedonia
2.Westeros
3. Eurasia
4. Genosha
5. Themyscira
6. Wakanda
7. Pottsylavia

[twodogsbarking]

23. And Slutkovia, Melaaaaaaniaaaaaah's home country.

[Prairie Gates]

34. The War in the Stepstones is not going well

[Vinca]

18. While it's true I'm not a crack military strategist, wouldn't this be done BEFORE a war?????

Effing moron. Note he's calling it a "war" in his little screeds, too. Where's Congress?

[JoseBalow]

19. As with ALL things drumpf, follow the money

Surely there is some shakedown or extortion or backdoor-payments angle involved. EVERYTHING he does revolves around his own self-enrichment, one just needs to find/uncover his benefit. I am confident that the details of this latest scheme will be revealed in time.

[travelingthrulife]

32. Well, so far he cancelled Putin's sanctions so he could sell more oil.

[Multichromatic]

20. Trump told NATO to go to Hell... NOW he is begging for their help.

The rest of the world shouldn't have to fix and clean up Toddler Trumps failed, illegal, Iranian war. Clean up your own damn mess Trump!!!!

[MissouriDem47]

24. After the Way Trump has treated them

Why would our allies care what Trump wants after the way he has treated them?

[tonekat]

25. He's "demanding"?

Hey senile grandpa, what's the magic word? He's in no position to demand anything.

[Goonch]

26. ;-{).......

[gypsy11]

27. Isn't China

Getting safe passage from Iran? I thought I read that.

[OGBuzz]

30. I read that also.

according to this article there may be more, but I don't know how reliable this is:

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/3/16/strait-of-hormuz-which-countriess-ships-has-iran-allowed-safe-passage-to

[gypsy11]

37. Thank you

For that. This article tracks with what I’ve been seeing /reading elsewhere. In my humble opinion, the rest of the world should bypass the orange shit-stain completely when it comes to this war of choice.

[OGBuzz]

40. I couldn't agree more. This is all on Netanyahu and Trump,

along with Witkoff and Kuschner who sabotaged the talks with Iran from the very beginning.

[Ocelot II]

28. And did they all tell him to fuck right off?

[OnlinePoker]

29. He starts the fire then asks others to help him put it out. n/t

[Prairie Gates]

33. Iran is giving Chinese ships the red carpet treatment through the Strait

The Chinese have to be watching all this just barely able to suppress a grin.

[Bluetus]

36. Notice the one country he didn't ask? Israel

[LetMyPeopleVote]

38. MaddowBlog-After alienating allies and declaring victory, Trump 'demands' foreign help in war

Foreign countries haven’t exactly rushed to answer the American president’s call for assistance. Imagine that.

So to sum up:
1. Trump alienates/insults allies
2. he launches an unnecessary war with no international legitimacy
3. he declares war “over,” dismisses need for allies’ help
4. he sees the war go sideways
5. he “demands” allies help us solve a problem he said doesn’t exist
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-16T13:42:17.264Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/after-alienating-allies-and-declaring-victory-trump-demands-foreign-help-in-war

During the first week of the war in Iran, multiple British news outlets reported that the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier was preparing for possible deployment to the Middle East to assist the United States and Israel. Seven days into the conflict, however, Donald Trump, who has a habit of insulting and alienating our closest allies, used his social media platform to deliver a message to leaders in the U.K.: Don’t bother.

“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” the American president wrote. “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”...

After claiming in an NBC News interview that unnamed countries had already committed to helping secure the strait — a dubious assertion, given the circumstances and available information — the Republican “demanded” that foreign nations step up and provide the U.S. with the kind of security assistance he recently said was unnecessary.

Trump on Strait of Hormuz: "Really, I'm demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory ... they should help us. You could make the case that maybe we shouldn't be there at all, because we don't need it. We have a lot of oil."

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-16T01:05:29.715Z

.....Indeed, the series of events seems preposterous. After spending the last year alienating U.S. allies, Trump launched an unnecessary war with no international legitimacy. He then prematurely declared victory, while simultaneously dismissing the need for international assistance, all while characterizing the Strait of Hormuz as a problem that’s already been solved.

It was at this point that the same American president, without explanation, turned on a dime and started demanding assistance from the same countries he’s insulted to address a problem he’s claimed doesn’t exist.

Foreign countries haven’t exactly rushed to answer Trump’s call for help, and Australian and Chinese officials have already rejected U.S. outreach. Imagine that.

[modrepub]

41. What's the Over/Under of Trump's

Actual ability to name 7 countries. I mean the ability to point to a map of country outlines and name the country.

Hell, give him a blank map of the US and ask him to fill out the state names. Bonus if he can label the Great Lakes and US Territories.

[republianmushroom]

42. Hey, stupid, yes, you trump.

Maybe you should of conferred with them BEFORE you started this war. They are smarter and don't have the orange EGO.

[maliaSmith]

43. Trump messed himself again.

Attacking and name calling other country's leadership doesn't get you help in a stupid war you and Bibi started. Smart people plan for all the bad things that could happen and you egotistically didn't. That's because you don't surround yourself with smart people and listen to them. Anyone with a brain knew Iran would block the path for oil tankers and you never questioned what would happen. I wonder if Iran's sleeper cells have some things planned for Trump and his admin. It wouldn't surprise me at all. Killing little kids with glee and no remorse is horrific and you did it Mr. Trump.

[EX500rider]

44. Europe has no need

As of early 2026, European Union countries import a relatively small, reduced amount of crude oil directly from the Middle East, with estimates placing the figure at roughly 6% to 7% of total EU crude imports.

Asia on the other hand:
Key Destinations and Percentages (via Strait of Hormuz):
Asia (Total): ~82%
China: ~37.7% (Also, ~90% of Iran's specific exports)

India relies on the Middle East for about 60% of its oil imports.
More than 90% of Japan's crude oil imports come from the Middle East.