WASHINGTON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday complained that U.S. allies are reluctant to answer his call to join a White House-proposed multinational mission to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
"We've protected them from horrible outside sources, and they weren't that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm matters to me," Trump said at a press conference.
Trump said some countries hosting large numbers of U.S. troops had declined to provide assistance when Washington asked whether they could contribute minesweeping vessels for a potential escort mission.
"I don't do a hard sell on them, because my attitude is, we don't need anybody," Trump argued. "But it's interesting: I'm almost doing it in some cases, not because we need them, but because I want to find out how they react."
Meanwhile, Trump claimed "numerous countries have told me they're on the way," though he failed to name any.
Multiple media reports said that so far it appears that U.S. allies have either been noncommittal or have declined to participate.
"I've been a big critic of all of the protecting of countries because I know that we'll protect them. And if we ever needed help, they won't be there for us. I've just known that for a long period of time," the president lamented.
Trump also said U.S. forces have sunk all of the Iranian mine-laying ships, but it remains unclear if Iran has started laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, while noting that Iran now can put mines on other types of ships and drop them in the strait. ■
