Trump warns NATO of 'very bad future' without allies' help in Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has warned that NATO will face a "very bad future" if its allies do not assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump made the remarks Sunday in an exclusive interview with the Financial Times, as reported by Reuters. He urged countries benefiting from the vital sea route, including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain, to contribute ships and equipment.

"In my opinion, China should also help; because China receives 90 percent of its oil from this strait," Trump said. He specified that assistance could include minesweeper ships and other military equipment to counter drones and sea mines.

"It is completely appropriate that countries benefiting from the Strait of Hormuz help, so that no bad incident happens there," Trump added. He expressed hope that the named countries would send their ships.

Trump noted that the United States had inflicted "very heavy blows" on Iran, leaving it with little option but to cause trouble in the strait. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz following attacks by the United States and Israel that began two weeks ago.

The strait, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean, carries about 20 percent of the world's crude oil. It also supplies 90 percent of China's oil imports, making any disruption a potential threat to global energy markets.