In an interview with the Financial Times, the US president says he expects China to help unblock the strait and could delay a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping if it doesn't
Aboard Air Force One, Trump also says he is speaking to "about seven" countries about "policing" the strait, adding that he "will remember" if they do not help
Meanwhile, Israel says it has begun "limited and targeted ground operations" against Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon
Work and Pensions Minister Pat McFadden says the Nato defence alliance was not conceived with the "kind of situation that we're seeing in the Middle East" in mind.
Nato was founded by 12 countries, including the US and UK, in 1949 and one of its core principles is Article 5, which states that an attack against one country is an attack against all.
As we mentioned in our last post, former Chief of Defence Staff - Gen Sir Nick Carter - has also been on the programme this morning and he says Nato "is not an alliance that was designed for one of the allies to go on a war of choice and then oblige everyone else to follow".
Asked whether he agrees, McFadden says Gen Carter is "right" and describes the current conflict as "not a Nato war" but "US-Israeli action". McFadden adds "we're deeply committed to Nato".
China has responded after President Trump earlier, in an interview with UK newspaper the Financial Times, threatened to delay a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping if Beijing doesn't send help to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
When asked about the US president's comments, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry says "head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-US relations", before adding "the two sides have maintained communication regarding President Trump's visit”.
In response to a question about Trump calling for warships to be sent to the Strait, Lin Jian says that recent tensions have disrupted trade routes and undermined regional and global peace.
"China reiterates its call for all parties to immediately cease military operations," the spokesperson says and adds "we are committed to promoting de-escalation".
Germany said on Monday that NATO should not play a role in securing the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump warned the defense alliance would face a “very bad” future if it fails to assist.
Speaking ahead of a Brussels meeting of EU member state foreign ministers in Brussels, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany did not see NATO “assuming responsibility” for the Strait of Hormuz.
Wadephul said Germany was in favour of imposing sanctions on “those responsible” for the blockade of the key shipping passage.
China’s foreign ministry again expressed alarm over the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing Middle East conflict, while making no mention of sending ships to help secure the vital waterway — hours after US President Donald Trump urged Beijing to do.
Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian described the situation as “tense” and undermining global stability, adding: “China once again calls on all parties to immediately cease military actions, avoid further escalation of tensions, and prevent regional turbulence from inflicting greater impacts on global economic development.”
Earlier, Trump had said in an interview with the Financial Times published Sunday that he could postpone a planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, adding that “China should help too because