WASHINGTON, March 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has "demanded" about seven countries heavily reliant on Middle East oil join a coalition to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which about 20 percent of the world's oil passes.

"I'm demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their own territory," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, referring to the strait.

Trump didn't name the countries the White House is negotiating with. ■