Trump Says US Will Be Paid to Guard Hormuz Strait
WASHINGTON- President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States would assume responsibility for guarding the Strait of Hormuz and that allied nations benefiting from the strategic maritime route would reimburse Washington for the mission, marking a shift in how the administration portrays the U.S. security role in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States would become “the guardian of the Strait” and argued that while American forces had long protected the waterway without compensation, that arrangement would change. He said wealthy nations would now pay the United States for providing security in the area.
“We’re going to get paid for guarding it,” Trump said, adding that the reimbursement would compensate the United States for placing its personnel in harm’s way. He said the objective was not to profit but to recover the costs associated with maintaining security in the region.
Trump’s remarks came amid heightened attention on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage linking the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The waterway is regarded as one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime chokepoints because a substantial share of globally traded oil and liquefied natural gas passes through it.
The president did not outline how such a reimbursement arrangement would operate, identify which countries would contribute financially, or specify whether the United States would alter its existing military posture in the region. He also did not provide details on the legal or diplomatic framework under which Washington would take what he described as a guardianship role.
The comments follow a period of heightened regional tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Related developments referenced alongside Trump’s remarks include Iran’s declaration that the strait was closed after an “unauthorized” vessel was struck, although no further details were provided in the material.
The latest statement also comes after earlier tensions between Washington and Tehran, including public threats by Trump directed at Iran following reports that calls for his assassination were made during the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Those events have underscored the strained relationship between the two countries amid broader regional instability.
The Strait of Hormuz has long occupied a central place in global energy security because any disruption to shipping through the passage can affect international oil markets and commercial trade. Successive U.S. administrations have maintained a military presence in and around the Gulf, citing the need to safeguard freedom of navigation and protect international shipping.
Trump’s latest comments suggest his administration intends to emphasize cost-sharing with partner nations benefiting from maritime security operations. However, he did not indicate whether the proposal had been discussed with allies or whether formal agreements were being negotiated.
The interview did not address any operational timeline for the proposed arrangement or whether other naval forces operating in the region would participate in the effort. No immediate reaction from other governments or regional stakeholders was included in the material provided.