Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on the U.S. military’s use of their bases and airspace that were imposed after Washington launched operations tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. and Saudi officials.
The move removes a major obstacle to President Trump’s effort to secure commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.
The report said the Trump administration is now seeking to restart “Project Freedom,” a naval escort mission designed to protect commercial shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump announced earlier this week that the operation would be paused while Pakistani-mediated negotiations with Iran continue. The sudden reversal on plans to assist commercial vessels reportedly followed the decision by Saudi Arabia to suspend U.S. military access to its bases and airspace for the operation, according to two U.S. officials. The source suggested regional leaders were responding to rapidly changing developments and said Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan’s diplomatic push to broker negotiations between Iran and the United States.
The White House disputed claims that Gulf allies were caught off guard by the proposed operation, stating regional partners had been informed in advance. A Middle Eastern diplomat told NBC News the U.S. only coordinated with Oman after Trump publicly announced Project Freedom, though the diplomat said Omani officials were “not upset or angry” over the sequence of events.
An NBC News report cited a Saudi source who said Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “have been in touch regularly,” with Saudi officials also coordinating with Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Central Command, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
