Gate News reports that since March 17, when the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been nearly completely halted. U.S. President Donald Trump plans to announce the formation of a so-called “Hormuz Alliance,” aiming to control the Strait of Hormuz and pressure European, Asian, and Gulf countries to send warships for escort duties. However, so far, many countries have taken a cautious stance or outright refused, with no nation publicly responding to the U.S. call. On March 16 local time, Trump reiterated at an event at the White House his call for other countries to help ensure the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. He stated, “Some countries are very proactive, while others are not so much. Some of these countries we’ve been helping for years and even protecting from terrible external threats, but their enthusiasm is not high.”