From PBS NewsHour.

President Donald Trump called on other nations Monday to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route for the transportation of oil, but also said that "we don’t need anybody."

He specifically called on Japan, South Korea, China and European countries to help the U.S. defend the strait. As the war presses on, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation. The strait is one of the world’s most critical oil passageways; around 20% of the world’s oil traffic passes through it.

"Numerous countries have told me they’re on the way. Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren’t," the president said. "Some are countries that we’ve helped for many, many years."

When asked if France would help reopen the strait, Trump, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron, said, "I think he’s gonna help. I mean, I’ll let you know. I spoke to him yesterday."

But, Trump added, "I don’t do a hard sell on them because my attitude is we don’t need anybody. We’re the strongest nation in the world. We have the strongest military, by far, in the world. We don’t need them."

Last week, Macron announced the deployment of aircraft and warships to the Middle East, eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea in a move he called strictly "defensive."

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