Hormuz Crisis Deepens: Why the US Hasn’t Sent Its Own Warships Either

A notable aspect of the Strait of Hormuz crisis that has attracted limited attention is the fact that the United States itself has not dispatched its own navy to escort tankers through the blockaded waterway — even as President Trump urges allies to do exactly that. Trump posted on Truth Social calling on the UK, France, China, Japan, South Korea, and other oil-importing nations to send warships to the contested passage, but the absence of an American naval presence escorting tankers through the strait raises questions about the feasibility and risk of any proposed coalition operation.
Iran’s blockade of the strait — launched in retaliation for US-Israeli airstrikes — has generated the most severe oil supply disruption in history. One-fifth of global oil exports ordinarily travel through the passage. Tehran has declared that tankers heading for the US, Israel, or their allies will be immediately destroyed, and sixteen ships have already been attacked since the conflict began in late February. Iran has also raised the possibility of mining the waterway, compounding the risks for any navy considering escort operations in the area.
France’s response was the most definitive refusal. Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin ruled out any warship deployment while the conflict continued. President Macron’s earlier reference to a defensive escort mission was conditioned on a cessation of the most intense phase of fighting. The UK said it was discussing options including mine-hunting drones. Japan’s ruling party official described the threshold for sending warships as very high. South Korea said it was carefully monitoring the situation and exploring various protective measures. The EU’s Aspides mission has been proposed for potential expansion, but Germany expressed doubt about its effectiveness.
The absence of US escort operations in the strait — combined with Washington’s appeals for others to take on that role — has not gone unnoticed by the governments being asked to commit. For Japan, South Korea, the UK, and France, the calculation involves not only Iranian military threats but also the question of whether they would be acting with American naval support or independently. The economic cost of the blockade grows daily, but so does the military risk of confronting Iran’s combination of attack vessels, missiles, drones, and the threat of mines in a narrow and strategically enclosed waterway.
China’s approach remains the most diplomatically focused of all major players. Beijing is reportedly engaged in discussions with Tehran about allowing oil tankers to transit safely, a potential diplomatic off-ramp that could ease the crisis. The Chinese embassy said China would strengthen communication with regional parties and work constructively toward de-escalation. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressed hope that China would prove a constructive partner and noted that dialogue with multiple nations about the crisis was already underway, indicating that diplomatic efforts continue even as military action remains off the table for most governments.