WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump signalled a potential shift in American policy on securing the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that other countries may need to take responsibility for protecting the critical shipping lane once US operations wind down.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House that Washington may not continue its role in safeguarding the strategic waterway after concluding its current military engagement with Iran.
“What happens to the Strait we're not going to have anything to do with, ” he said, indicating a possible withdrawal from security operations in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital corridor for global energy supplies, with a significant portion of the world’s oil shipments passing through it daily.
Trump suggested that nations benefiting from the route should take on greater responsibility. “That'll be for France… that'll be for whoever's using the strait, ” he said.