U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that many countries would send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for shipping, though he did not specify which nations would participate.

“Many Countries, especially those that are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending warships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He added that he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain, and others would contribute ships.

“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water,” he wrote.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether any countries had agreed to send ships.

Western powers increase military presence

Western nations have bolstered their military presence in the eastern Mediterranean amid the conflict with Iran, focusing on the security of Cyprus after an Iranian-made drone hit a British military base there on March 2.

Britain is exploring additional deployments to the Gulf after Iran stepped up attacks on vessels, Defence Minister John Healey said Thursday. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the British government is consulting allies and partners on “a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region.”

The French Navy is deploying roughly a dozen vessels, including its aircraft carrier strike group, to the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and potentially the Strait of Hormuz to support allies threatened by the conflict. French officials said Paris has been consulting with European, Asian, and Gulf Arab states on a plan to eventually escort tankers through the strait.

US offers escort for tankers

Trump said Thursday that the U.S. is willing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz to protect them from Iranian attack, as his administration searches for ways to ease high oil prices fueled by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.