Trump warns NATO, presses China to help reopen Strait of Hormuz: Report

## Summary
Advertisement World Trump warns NATO, presses China to help reopen Strait of Hormuz: Report Trump also said that he may delay his trip to China, saying he would prefer to know Beijing’s position on the issue before the planned visit. US President Donald Trump looks on during a round table on collegiate sports in the White House in Washington, DC, Mar 6, 2026. (File photo: REUTERS/Nathan Howard) 16 Mar 2026 08:50AM (Updated: 16 Mar 2026 10:49AM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST US President Donald Trump warned NATO of a “very bad” future if allies do not help open up the Strait of Hormuz and said he may also delay a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in comments published by the Financial Times on Sunday (Mar 15). "I think China should help too because China gets 90 per cent of its oil from the Straits," Trump told the newspaper, adding he would prefer to know Beijing’s position before the planned visit. “We may delay,” he said of the trip. Related: Trump urges world powers to secure Iran shipping lane Israel says thousands of targets left as Iran warns others to avoid war When asked to specify the assistance he wanted, Trump told the FT that it could include minesweepers and other military assets to counter drones and naval mines. "We’re hitting them very hard," Trump said of Iranian forces, according to the FT. "They've got nothing left but to make a little trouble in the Strait … these people are beneficiaries and they ought to help us police it." Iran effectively shut the strait after the United States and Israel launched attacks against it more than two weeks ago.

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Trump warns NATO, presses China to help reopen Strait of Hormuz: Report
Trump also said that he may delay his trip to China, saying he would prefer to know Beijing’s position on the issue before the planned visit.
US President Donald Trump looks on during a round table on collegiate sports in the White House in Washington, DC, Mar 6, 2026. (File photo: REUTERS/Nathan Howard)
16 Mar 2026 08:50AM
(Updated: 16 Mar 2026 10:49AM)
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US President Donald Trump warned NATO of a “very bad” future if allies do not help open up the Strait of Hormuz and said he may also delay a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in comments published by the Financial Times on Sunday (Mar 15).
"I think China should help too because China gets 90 per cent of its oil from the Straits," Trump told the newspaper, adding he would prefer to know Beijing’s position before the planned visit.
“We may delay,” he said of the trip.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng
wrapped up the first of two days of talks
in Paris on Sunday to iron out kinks in their trade truce and clear a path for Trump's trip to Beijing to meet with Xi at the end of March.
The US president said countries that benefit from the shipping route
should help secure it
.
“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” he told the FT.
Trump on Saturday called on nations to send warships to keep the narrow waterway open for shipping as Iranian forces continue attacks following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, saying he hoped countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain would send ships to the area.
Related:
Trump urges world powers to secure Iran shipping lane
Israel says thousands of targets left as Iran warns others to avoid war
When asked to specify the assistance he wanted, Trump told the FT that it could include minesweepers and other military assets to counter drones and naval mines.
"We’re hitting them very hard," Trump said of Iranian forces, according to the FT. "They've got nothing left but to make a little trouble in the Strait … these people are beneficiaries and they ought to help us police it."
Iran effectively shut the strait after the United States and Israel launched attacks against it more than two weeks ago. About a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage of water between Iran and Oman.
Trump also warned Washington
could launch further strikes on Kharg Island
, Iran’s main oil export hub, saying US forces could target its oil infrastructure if needed.
“We can hit that in five minutes," he said. "And there’s not a thing they can do about it.”
Trump also criticised Britain’s response after speaking with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
"The UK might be considered the number one ally… and when I asked for them to come, they didn’t want to come," Trump told the Financial Times, adding that Britain only offered to send ships after the US had already reduced Iran’s military capabilities.
The White House and the Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Source: Reuters/fh
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- The US president said countries that benefit from the shipping route should help secure it . “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” he told the FT.

### Areas for Consideration
- Advertisement World Trump warns NATO, presses China to help reopen Strait of Hormuz: Report Trump also said that he may delay his trip to China, saying he would prefer to know Beijing’s position on the issue before the planned visit.

### Implications
- Advertisement World Trump warns NATO, presses China to help reopen Strait of Hormuz: Report Trump also said that he may delay his trip to China, saying he would prefer to know Beijing’s position on the issue before the planned visit.
- Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST US President Donald Trump warned NATO of a “very bad” future if allies do not help open up the Strait of Hormuz and said he may also delay a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in comments published by the Financial Times on Sunday (Mar 15). "I think China should help too because China gets 90 per cent of its oil from the Straits," Trump told the newspaper, adding he would prefer to know Beijing’s position before the planned visit. “We may delay,” he said of the trip.
- The US president said countries that benefit from the shipping route should help secure it . “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” he told the FT.
- Related: Trump urges world powers to secure Iran shipping lane Israel says thousands of targets left as Iran warns others to avoid war When asked to specify the assistance he wanted, Trump told the FT that it could include minesweepers and other military assets to counter drones and naval mines. "We’re hitting them very hard," Trump said of Iranian forces, according to the FT. "They've got nothing left but to make a little trouble in the Strait … these people are beneficiaries and they ought to help us police it." Iran effectively shut the strait after the United States and Israel launched attacks against it more than two weeks ago.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers trump, iran, help topics. Notable strengths include discussion of trump. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 733.