White House Seeks Coalition to Escort Ships through Strait of Hormuz amid Energy Crisis

The Trump administration is pressing allies to help escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's mining campaign choked off nearly 20 million barrels of daily oil shipments.

The White House is quietly trying to build an international coalition to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The push comes after Iran's mining campaign effectively closed the waterway, choking off nearly 20 million barrels of daily oil shipments and sending energy markets into turmoil.

President Donald Trump has offered U.S. Navy escorts to any vessel willing to transit the strait. But the Pentagon is refusing near-daily requests from commercial shippers, according to a Reuters report, saying the risks of attacks remain too high for now. The Navy decommissioned four Avenger-class minesweepers stationed in Bahrain in late 2025, and their replacements have struggled to meet mine countermeasure requirements.

Administration officials have spent the past week calling allies to gauge interest in joint patrols. So far, no formal agreements have been reached. Japan's defense minister said Thursday his country has no plans to send ships. Other allies have expressed concerns about committing naval assets while the conflict remains unpredictable.

The stakes are enormous. The Strait of Hormuz handles about a third of the world's seaborne crude. With the waterway effectively closed for more than a week, the International Energy Agency announced a record 400 million barrel reserve release to offset supply losses. Analysts warn that even limited mining could spike insurance rates and act as an effective blockade.

State Department officials declined to comment on specific diplomatic conversations but reiterated that the administration is committed to keeping global energy lanes open.