On the 3rd, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy will provide military escorts for oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Posting on his social media platform, “Truth Social,” Trump said, “If necessary, the U.S. Navy will begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible,” and emphasised, “Under any circumstances, the United States will ensure the free flow of energy to the world.”
This announcement comes amid rising military tensions in the strait, which accounts for 20% of global crude oil traffic, following recent U.S. military actions against Iran. The move highlights Trump’s determination to stabilise oil prices.
Trump also announced, “I have directed the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to immediately offer political risk insurance and guarantees for all maritime transport through the Gulf region, especially for energy shipments, at highly competitive rates.”
This measure is intended to counter Iran’s threats to block the Strait of Hormuz by using U.S. military power to protect key international energy routes.
Currently, the U.S. military presence in the Middle East is at its highest since the Iraq War, including the deployment of two aircraft carrier strike groups.
However, the exact timing of the Navy’s involvement in escorting tankers remains unclear, as Trump specified the condition “if necessary.”
If military operations against Iran are prolonged and result in higher international oil prices, it could become a significant issue for Trump ahead of the November midterm elections.
The White House has previously highlighted the nationwide drop in gasoline prices since Trump took office as a major accomplishment.
During a summit with the German Chancellor at the White House, Trump assured reporters, “Oil prices might be a bit high for a while, but once this is over, they will go down and could even drop lower than before.”
Meanwhile, General Ebrahim Jabbari of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned, “We will sink any vessel attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and block even a single drop of oil from being exported, driving international oil prices to US$200 per barrel.”
