Trump Says 'Go Get Your Own Oil' — What It Means for Australia's Fuel Crisis
Trump told allies to 'buy from the US' or 'go to the Strait and just TAKE IT.' Australia imports 90% of its fuel, holds just 36 days of reserves, and wasn't consulted before the Iran strikes. Here's what Trump's message really means for Australian drivers.
'Buy From the US, or Just TAKE IT': Trump's Message to the World
On 31 March 2026, Donald Trump took to Truth Social with a message that sent shockwaves through allied capitals. Directed at nations struggling to access fuel through the contested Strait of Hormuz, Trump wrote:
> *"All of those countries that can't get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT."*
In a follow-up post, he added: *"Start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore."*
The posts were aimed squarely at the UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had publicly refused to join the US–Israeli strikes on Iran. But the message carries far broader implications—particularly for Australia, which imports roughly **90% of its fuel** and holds just **36 days of reserves**.
When the US President tells the world to sort its own fuel supply, Australia needs to listen.
Context: How We Got Here
The Strait of Hormuz crisis didn't materialise from thin air. In late February 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian military infrastructure—targeting nuclear facilities, missile defence systems, and military command centres.
Iran's response was swift: on approximately 1 March, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. The Strait is one of the world's most critical oil chokepoints, with roughly **20–21 million barrels per day** transiting through it—about **20% of global oil supply**.
The closure triggered an immediate crude oil price spike. Brent crude surged from ~$69/barrel in early February to **$118/barrel** by late March—a **63% increase in under six weeks**. On 19 March, Dubai crude briefly spiked to **$166/barrel** in a flash of panic trading.
Iran did make one concession: it allowed **10 oil tankers through the Strait** as what it called a "present" to the United States. But this gesture was widely interpreted as a political manoeuvre rather than a sign of de-escalation—a reminder that Iran controls the chokepoint and decides who passes through it.
Trump's response? Not diplomacy. Not multilateral coordination. A Truth Social post telling allies to fend for themselves.
Australia's Dangerous Fuel Dependency: The Numbers
Trump's message hits Australia harder than most nations because of one uncomfortable fact: **we can't produce enough fuel to sustain ourselves**.
Australia once had eight oil refineries. Today, just two remain operational—**Ampol Lytton** in Brisbane and **Viva Energy Geelong** in Victoria. The rest closed between 2003 and 2021 as refining became uneconomical against cheaper Asian imports.
The result:
**~90% of Australia's refined fuel is imported.** We rely on supply chains stretching from Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and the Middle East. Roughly **30% of Australia's total fuel** transits the Strait of Hormuz indirectly—crude oil shipped from the Persian Gulf to Asian refineries, processed, then shipped to Australia.
For diesel, the exposure is worse: approximately **50% of Australia's diesel supply** depends on Strait of Hormuz flows, because Singapore and South Korean refineries—our primary diesel sources—process Middle Eastern crude.
**Australia holds 36 days of fuel reserves.** The International Energy Agency (IEA) recommends 90 days. We're at roughly one-third of the target. By comparison, the US holds an estimated 400+ days, Japan over 200 days, and most European nations sit between 60 and 120 days.
When Trump says "go get your own oil," he's talking to a country that literally cannot.
'Australia Wasn't Consulted': Albanese Responds
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was measured but pointed in his response: **"Australia wasn't consulted before this action was undertaken."**
That single sentence carries enormous weight. The ANZUS alliance—the bedrock of Australian defence and foreign policy since 1951—is built on the assumption of mutual consultation, shared intelligence, and coordinated strategic decision-making. The US–Israeli strikes on Iran were a unilateral action that has directly damaged Australia's economy, energy security, and cost of living.
Australia is now paying $2.33+ per litre for unleaded petrol—up from $1.77 in January. Diesel is approaching $3.00 in some regions. The excise cut announced for April 1 saves 26.3 cents per litre, but crude oil's 63% surge has added roughly 80 cents per litre to pump prices. The net effect: Australians are **significantly worse off** despite government intervention.
And Australia had no say in the military action that triggered this crisis.
The diplomatic awkwardness is palpable. Australia can't publicly rebuke its most important security partner. But privately, the frustration in Canberra is reportedly intense. Australian Defence officials were informed of the strikes only hours before they began—not consulted, *informed*.
The UK Rebuke: A Warning for Australia
Trump's ire was directed primarily at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who publicly refused to participate in or endorse the Iran strikes. Starmer's position was that the strikes were disproportionate and risked destabilising the entire Middle East—a view shared privately by many European and Asia-Pacific allies.
Trump's response was characteristically blunt: the UK "refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran" and now shouldn't expect US help securing its energy supply.
This sets a dangerous precedent for Australia. If Trump is willing to publicly humiliate the UK—America's closest traditional ally—over perceived disloyalty, where does that leave Australia?
Australia occupied an even more awkward position than the UK: it wasn't asked to participate, wasn't consulted on timing, and yet is bearing the full economic consequences. If support for the strikes is now the price of US energy cooperation, Australia is being asked to pay a bill it never agreed to.
The implication is clear: in Trump's worldview, alliance obligations flow one way. The US acts, allies deal with the fallout, and anyone who complains is told to handle it themselves.
Can Australia Actually 'Buy from the US'?
Trump suggested allies "buy from the US, we have plenty." Is that realistic for Australia?
The United States is the world's **largest oil producer**, pumping approximately **13.2 million barrels per day**. It has massive refining capacity and is a net exporter of petroleum products. In theory, Australia could source more fuel from the US.
In practice, it's far more complicated:
**1. Refinery compatibility:** Australian refineries and import terminals are configured for specific crude grades—mostly light sweet crude from Asia-Pacific sources (Malaysian Tapis, Australian domestic crude, Middle Eastern light grades). Switching to US crude (WTI-grade) requires adjustments to refinery settings and blending processes. It's doable, but not overnight.
**2. Shipping economics:** The US Gulf Coast to eastern Australia is roughly **14,000 nautical miles**—about 30 days by tanker. Compare that to Singapore (8 days) or South Korea (12 days). The freight cost premium is substantial, potentially adding **3–5 cents per litre** to landed costs.
**3. US export priorities:** The US is already committed to significant export contracts with European, South American, and Asian buyers. Adding large Australian orders would require displacing existing customers or ramping production—neither of which happens quickly.
**4. Political strings attached:** Trump's offer isn't altruistic. "Buy from us" is a geopolitical transaction: energy dependence on the US would give Washington even more leverage over Australian foreign policy. It's trading one vulnerability for another.
The short answer: Australia could buy *some* US oil, at a premium, with logistical delays, and with political strings attached. It's not the quick fix Trump implies.
Iran's '10 Tankers' Gambit: Power Play, Not Peace
In late March, Iran allowed **10 oil tankers** through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the move as a "present" to the United States. Markets briefly rallied on the news before realising what it actually was: a demonstration of power, not a concession.
By selectively allowing tankers through, Iran proved three things simultaneously:
**1. Iran controls the chokepoint.** The 10-tanker release wasn't forced; it was permitted. Iran can open and close the Strait at will.
**2. Iran decides who benefits.** The tankers were specifically described as a gesture to the US—not to allies, not to neutral parties. Iran is playing favourites, and countries like Australia aren't on the list.
**3. Iran can weaponise gradualism.** Instead of a full blockade (which would trigger maximum international response), Iran can throttle supply—letting some through, blocking others—creating permanent uncertainty in global oil markets.
For Australia, this is the worst possible scenario. A full blockade would at least trigger a coordinated IEA response and emergency reserve releases. A partial, selective throttling of the Strait means prices stay elevated, supply stays uncertain, and Australia's 36 days of reserves slowly drain without triggering emergency protocols.
Trump's advice to "just TAKE IT" is, strategically speaking, unhinged. The Strait of Hormuz is defended by Iranian anti-ship missiles, naval mines, and fast-attack craft. No country—not even the US—can simply "take" the Strait without a major military confrontation.
What This Means for Australian Fuel Prices
Let's translate the geopolitics into bowser prices.
As of late March 2026, national average unleaded petrol sits around **$2.33 per litre**. Diesel is hovering near **$2.72 per litre**, with some metro stations exceeding $3.00.
The April 1 fuel excise cut saves **26.3 cents per litre**—real money, roughly $17–19 per tank. But that saving is dwarfed by the ~80c/L increase driven by crude oil's surge from $69 to $118 per barrel.
Trump's "go get your own oil" stance means Australia cannot expect preferential treatment in global energy markets. If the Strait of Hormuz remains partially disrupted:
**Best case (ceasefire by mid-April):** Crude oil settles to ~$85–95/barrel over 6–8 weeks. National average ULP drops to ~$2.10–2.20 with the excise cut. Still 25–40% above pre-crisis levels.
**Base case (continued tensions, no escalation):** Crude oil stays at $100–120/barrel. National average ULP remains $2.30–2.50 even with the excise cut. Diesel stays above $2.60.
**Worst case (Strait fully closed again):** Crude oil spikes past $150/barrel. National ULP could exceed **$2.80–$3.00**. Fuel rationing becomes a genuine possibility. Australia's 36 days of reserves start counting down.
Pre-crisis prices of $1.77/L feel like a different world. They're not coming back until the Strait of Hormuz is genuinely resolved—and Trump just told the world not to count on American help making that happen.
The Bigger Picture: Australia's Energy Sovereignty Problem
Trump's blunt message has accidentally exposed a truth that Australian policymakers have avoided for decades: **Australia has no meaningful energy sovereignty for liquid fuels.**
We are the world's **third-largest LNG exporter** but import the vast majority of our own refined fuel. We export raw gas to Japan and South Korea, then buy back refined diesel and petrol from refineries in those same countries. The absurdity of this arrangement is only visible during a crisis.
Previous governments of both stripes have acknowledged the problem without fixing it. The Morrison Government's **Fuel Security Services Payment** (2021) paid Ampol and Viva Energy to keep their refineries open—essentially subsidising the last two refineries to prevent total import dependence. But two refineries processing ~450,000 barrels per day cannot cover a nation consuming ~1 million barrels per day.
The Albanese Government's **National Energy Security Assessment** (2024) identified liquid fuel supply as a critical vulnerability but proposed no new refining capacity. Strategic reserve targets remain aspirational.
Trump has, in his characteristically undiplomatic way, clarified the situation: **allies cannot rely on the US to secure global energy supply lines.** For Australia, that means either building genuine strategic reserves (expensive, slow), expanding domestic refining capacity (very expensive, slower), or accelerating the transition to domestically produced energy sources (electric vehicles, renewables).
None of these happen in time for the current crisis. But the current crisis should make them non-negotiable for the next decade.
What Australian Drivers Can Do Right Now
Geopolitics is beyond your control. Fuel prices, partially, aren't. Here's what you can do:
**Track and compare prices.** Use [FuelCalc](/) to calculate real trip costs at current prices. Monitor your local servo and compare to regional averages—if your servo is gouging, fill up elsewhere.
**Time your fill-ups.** Mid-week (Tuesday to Wednesday) is typically the cheapest time to fill up in Australian metro areas. Avoid Friday afternoons and long-weekend lead-ups.
**Consider your vehicle.** If you're driving a fuel-hungry SUV or ute, the crisis makes the running costs brutal. Use FuelCalc to compare fuel costs between vehicles—a hybrid RAV4 at 4.8L/100km costs roughly half as much per kilometre as a Hilux at 9.5L/100km.
**Combine trips.** Cold engines use more fuel. Combining errands into one trip saves fuel over multiple short trips from a cold start.
**Check tyre pressures.** Under-inflated tyres increase fuel consumption by 3–5%. A free check at any servo can save real money over weeks.
**Report price gouging.** If a servo is charging significantly above competitors post-excise cut, report it to the ACCC. The new $100M penalties give regulators teeth they didn't have in 2022.
**Plan ahead.** If you're planning Easter road trips or long drives, calculate your fuel cost with FuelCalc before you leave. At current prices, a Sydney-to-Melbourne drive costs roughly **$90–120 in fuel alone** depending on your vehicle.
The Bottom Line: Australia Is on Its Own
Trump's "go get your own oil" message is crude (no pun intended), but it contains an uncomfortable truth: the era of assuming the US will keep global energy supply lines open for allies is over—at least under this administration.
Australia imports 90% of its fuel. It holds 36 days of reserves against a 90-day target. Roughly half its diesel flows through supply chains connected to the Strait of Hormuz. It wasn't consulted before the strikes that triggered the crisis. And now it's been publicly told to fend for itself.
The excise cut helps. ACCC enforcement helps. But these are short-term patches on a structural vulnerability that has been decades in the making.
For Australian drivers, the immediate reality is this: fuel prices are elevated and will stay that way until the Strait of Hormuz crisis resolves. Track prices with [FuelCalc](/), fill up smart, and hold retailers accountable for passing on the excise cut.
For Australian policymakers, the message is starker: **energy sovereignty is no longer optional.** The US just said so publicly.
The next time a Truth Social post moves oil markets, Australia needs to be in a position where it hurts less.
Tags: Trump, fuel crisis, Australia, oil, Strait of Hormuz, energy security, 2026, geopolitics, fuel imports, Albanese