Washington, April 2 — President Donald Trump said at a White House Easter lunch that countries that rely on major global sea routes should take responsibility for securing them, questioning why the United States should continue to police critical energy corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz. “Let China do it. Let Japan do it. Let South Korea do it… what the hell are we doing it for?” he asked, according to a video of the closed event that was briefly posted on the White House YouTube channel and later removed.
Speaking to a private audience, Trump said the US has shouldered the burden of protecting the strait for years. “We have been for years,” he said, and suggested a possible change in posture by adding that the US was “getting ready to get out of there,” framing the comment as part of a broader strategic shift.
Trump said American military action should concentrate on direct national interests, stating, “All I want to do is make sure they don’t ever have a nuclear weapon.” He also emphasized US self-reliance in operations, saying “We didn’t need them,” when referring to allied cooperation. His remarks called for greater burden-sharing by countries that benefit from open trade routes and signalled a more transactional approach to US foreign policy.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints, with a large share of global crude transiting the passage. Any reduction in US involvement there could ripple through energy markets and disrupt supply chains, raising concerns about price volatility and delivery security.
For India, one of the world’s largest energy importers with substantial crude purchases from the Gulf, stability in the Strait of Hormuz is vital to energy security. New US policy directions could force New Delhi to balance its long-standing policy of strategic autonomy — avoiding formal alliances — with the practical need to work with partners to protect maritime and energy interests.
(IANS)
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/04/02/what-the-hell-are-we-doing-it-for-trump-on-us-role-in-policing-energy-corridors/
Category: NATIONAL,News Alert
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Publish Date: 2026-04-02 16:43:00
