A handout photo made available by the Royal Thai Navy shows the Thai-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree on fire after being hit by Iranian missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, Mar. 11, 2026. According to the Royal Thai Navy, 20 Thai crew members were rescued by Oman's navy while three remain missing. EPA-Yonhap

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SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - The United States has initiated the war against Iran, but the fallout from Tehran’s weaponization of the Strait of Hormuz — a maritime route vital to Asia-Pacific economies that together account for roughly 70 percent of global output — is now being shifted onto those countries, according to the logic advanced by President Donald Trump.

Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called on South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, Japan and China — along with other countries dependent on the strait’s oil flows — to dispatch warships to help restore shipping traffic through the narrow waterway.

The appeal came after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, triggering what analysts describe as one of the largest disruptions to global oil supplies in modern history.

The request underscores both the strategic importance of the strait and the growing costs facing Washington as the war with Tehran stretches into its third week, with potentially severe consequences for the global and U.S. economies.

Unleaded and diesel fuel pumps at a petrol station forecourt in London, Britain, Mar. 13, 2026. Disruptions to oil shipping routes due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of US and Israeli military strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Iran have led to a surge in fuel prices at UK petrol stations. Economists warn that this increase could raise inflation and reduce consumer spending. EPA-Yonhap

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Roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making its closure a major shock to energy markets and international trade.

For Trump, the logic behind the request appears straightforward: the countries he named include some of the world’s largest naval powers and major beneficiaries of open sea lanes.

“The countries named are the leading naval powers after the United States and among the major beneficiaries of open sea lanes,” said Harvey M. Sapolsky of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“Expecting the United States to be the sole protector of the international economy is unrealistic.”

Some analysts say Trump’s reasoning is consistent with his business-minded approach to geopolitical and diplomatic issues, emphasizing burden-sharing and clear responsibilities.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on a flight back to Washington Mar. 15, 2026. Reuters-Yonhap

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The countries Trump singled out fall into two broad categories. Britain and France are longstanding NATO allies with significant naval capabilities, while South Korea and Japan host major U.S. military bases and depend heavily on Middle Eastern energy imports.

“If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO,” Trump told the Financial Times on Sunday.

In the interview, Trump also suggested that China should send warships to help secure the Gulf and warned that he could postpone a summit scheduled for early April in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping if China did not comply.

According to See Seng Tan of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Washington may be acknowledging that the war will require broader international support.

“The United States seems to have come to the realization that its conflict with Iran will require more assistance and resources than Washington anticipated,” Tan said.

“These countries are all major users of the Strait of Hormuz, so keeping it open serves their interests as well.”

U.S. Army soldiers take part in a U.S.-South Korea joint river-crossing exercise, which is a part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military training, near the demilitarized zone separating South and North Korea, in Yeoncheon, South Korea, Mar. 14, 2026. Reuters-Yonhap

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Others interpret Trump’s move as a geopolitical test.

Alan Chong Chia Siong, also of Nanyang Technological University, said the U.S. president may be probing what he sees as a group of “new strategic friends” outside traditional alliance structures.

By inviting them to participate in a multinational naval patrol, Chong said, Washington could demonstrate that global coordination can function without relying on the United Nations — a possible explanation for Trump’s warning that “we will remember” which countries respond.

Still, many analysts remain skeptical of the coalition idea, noting that it could draw third countries directly into the conflict and potentially widen the war.

The Strait of Hormuz is now effectively an active war zone, where Iranian forces have threatened attacks on vessels linked to the United States or Israel. Deploying naval escorts could significantly increase the risk of confrontation.

“Operating in these waters is extremely risky at present,” said Yang Zi of Nanyang Technological University.

Any country sending warships, he said, must assume a high probability of clashes with Iranian forces.

The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black fires a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) in support of the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran from an undisclosed location Feb. 28, 2026. Reuters-Yonhap

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China in particular is unlikely to participate militarily, Yang added, since Beijing rarely follows Washington’s lead and may prefer negotiating directly with Tehran to secure its energy supplies.

Legal experts also point to significant international law questions.

Mara Revkin of Duke University School of Law noted that economic interests alone do not justify the use of military force under the UN Charter.

Article 2(4) of the charter prohibits the use of force against other states except in cases of self-defense or when authorized by the UN Security Council.

While escorting commercial ships through international waters is generally lawful, Revkin said the situation becomes far more complicated in an active war zone.

“Any naval deployment by a third-party state — even if intended to protect commercial shipping — could risk being perceived by Iran as entering the conflict,” she said.

Beyond the immediate question of naval escorts lies a broader uncertainty: how the war itself will unfold.

Many analysts believe the conflict could become prolonged. Iran, they argue, is likely to continue exerting pressure on the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in future negotiations.

Barry R. Posen of MIT predicts that the war could ultimately end with both sides claiming victory, even if Iran’s military infrastructure suffers heavy damage.

Washington may also have underestimated Iran’s resilience, said Paul Michael Hedges of Nanyang Technological University, noting that Tehran has remained defiant even after the killing of its longtime leader.

If maritime disruptions continue, the United States could face mounting pressure to deploy ground forces to secure key areas around the Persian Gulf — an escalation that risks turning the conflict into a prolonged and politically costly war.
Lee Jung-woo Reporter cannes2030@ajupress.com

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