The Wall Street Journal has reported that the United States is planning to resume “Project Freedom” after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait restored U.S military access to critical bases and airspace in the Gulf region.
Project Freedom is a naval operation led by U.S President Donald Trump to escort foreign commercial vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the mission was suspended 36 hours after its launch last week. U.S defence officials told the WSJ that the Pentagon could relaunch the operation in a few days.
WSJ cited U.S and Saudi officials who confirmed that phone calls between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman helped reopen access to the bases.
There were rumours of the Gulf placing a “ban” on U.S military activity, which the White House earlier denied.
Project Freedom started on a dangerous note, with Iran launching missiles and drones across the Gulf hours after its enforcement, hitting commercial shipping lanes, U.S naval assets, and infrastructure of U.S allies.
Reports of strikes on oil transit facilities in the United Arab Emirates, a Chinese oil tanker carrying petrochemicals from Saudi Arabia, a South Korean-owned tanker, and a French-operated container ship, raised apprehensions regarding the safety of the operation. This led to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait temporarily restricting the U.S military’s access to key airspace and regional bases required for the mission’s success.
A similar escort operation was conducted by the U.S navy during the 1980s Tanker War, where U.S forces protected oil vessels during the Iran-Iraq dispute. However, Project Freedom relies on fewer battleships and a smaller patrol coverage.
Around 20% of the world’s oil was transported through the Strait of Hormuz before the joint operation of Israel and the U.S against Iran on February 28. In retaliation, Iran blocked the economically critical maritime passage, triggering a global energy crisis.
