As U.S. President Donald Trump raises the pressure, warning he will “remember” allies that do not dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz, the countries asked to send forces are growing more uneasy. The Trump administration is reportedly planning to announce this week the formation of a coalition to conduct an escort operation in Hormuz. Meanwhile, some countries, including India, have entered direct, separate negotiations with the Iranian government to obtain permission to transit the strait.

The Guardian reported on the 15th (local time) that the international response to President Trump’s request to send warships has so far been “ambiguous and reluctant,” adding that countries are “hesitant to undertake a military response that could put their own navies at risk.”

A senior Japanese government official told NHK that “we do not rule out sending warships to secure sea lanes, but the threshold for dispatch is very high,” adding that they would not dispatch immediately in response to President Trump’s request. President Trump is highly likely to directly ask Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to send warships at the U.S.-Japan summit on the 19th.

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took a cautious stance, saying it would “decide on support measures after close communication with the United States and a review of the situation,” according to the New York Times (NYT) and other outlets.

France and the United Kingdom also did not give definitive answers. Earlier, French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin stated, “We will not send warships to Hormuz while the conflict continues to escalate.” The French Foreign Ministry said the previous day via X that French vessels would maintain a defensive posture in the eastern Mediterranean.

Ed Miliband, the United Kingdom’s energy security secretary, said in a Sky News interview that they are discussing with the United States and others the support the U.K. can provide, such as minehunting equipment, while adding that “the surest way to reopen the strait is to end this conflict.”

The Chinese government has not yet announced an official position. To pressure China, President Trump even hinted at the possibility of postponing a U.S.-China summit that day. Experts believe China, which maintains a strategic cooperative relationship with Iran, is unlikely to actually dispatch warships.

However, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration plans to announce this week that several countries have agreed to form a coalition to escort ships in Hormuz. U.S. administration officials, in outlining the plan, said discussions are ongoing as to whether operations would commence after hostilities cease, or even before then.

Energy Minister Chris Wright, asked in an interview with ABC which countries had agreed to deploy, declined to name specific nations but said, “We have spoken directly with some countries, and we know it is true that they have expressed their intention to join.” President Trump likewise claimed in an NBC interview the previous day that “not only have some countries pledged to deploy, they also think it is a great idea.”

By contrast, Iran sought to drive a wedge, saying it is “guaranteeing safe passage to countries other than the United States and Israel.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a CBS interview that day, “We have been asked by several countries for the safe passage of vessels, and several of them have been granted.”

In fact, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told the Financial Times, “Through negotiations with the Iranian government, on the 14th two India-flagged gas carriers transited the strait,” adding that direct dialogue with Iran is the most effective way to resume maritime transport through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Iranian government has not granted comprehensive passage for all India-flagged vessels. Minister Jaishankar said this transit “was possible thanks to the long-standing relationship between India and Iran,” and that talks are continuing to allow more ships to pass.

Currently, some European countries, including France and Italy, are also negotiating with Iran to resume energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, the FT reported.