Trump says US should be paid to guard Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States should receive payment for protecting the Strait of Hormuz, the major oil-shipping route at the centre of renewed conflict with Iran. The comments pointed to a potential shift in how Trump frames US security commitments around one of the world’s most sensitive energy corridors, though he did not describe who would pay or how any reimbursement system would work.

“We’re going to keep the strait, and we’ll probably run it,” Trump said in a phone interview with Fox News.

Trump said the US would act as the “guardian” of the waterway and argued that Washington should not provide that protection without compensation.

“We’ll become the guardian of the strait, maybe we’ll call it the guardian angel of the strait,” he told Fox News. “And we should be reimbursed for that.”

The president added: “We can’t be expected to do that for nothing, unlike we had for many years. We guarded it for nothing, and now we’re going to guard it, we’re going to get paid for guarding it. A lot of money.”

Payment mechanism not specified

Trump’s remarks did not include operational details, legal authority or a funding mechanism. He did not say whether reimbursement would be sought from energy exporters, importers, shipping companies, allied governments or another group.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic passage for oil shipping. Any disruption around the route can draw close attention from energy markets, shipping operators and governments that rely on Gulf trade flows.

The comments came as the waterway has become a focal point of re-escalating hostilities involving the US and Iran, according to CNBC. Trump’s statement linked the US role in guarding the strait to compensation, rather than describing it solely as a security mission.

No additional policy announcement accompanied the interview. Trump did not state whether the administration had opened talks with other governments or industry participants over payments for maritime security in the strait.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.