US President Donald Trump suspended the Freedom escort mission in the Strait of Hormuz on May 6 due to Saudi Arabia’s objections. The decision followed Riyadh’s ban on U.S. military use of its bases and airspace, according to sources.
Riyadh expressed outrage over the lack of prior notification regarding the operation’s launch. Trump reportedly announced the mission on social media on Sunday afternoon (May 5), an action that angered Saudi leadership. In response, the kingdom informed Washington it would not permit U.S. aircraft to operate from Prince Sultan base southeast of Riyadh or fly through Saudi airspace.
A telephone conversation between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failed to resolve the dispute. As a result, the White House halted the mission to restore access to the region’s critical airspace.
A Saudi source confirmed that leaders maintain regular communication but noted that “events are moving too fast” as the cause of the friction. Meanwhile, a U.S. official stated regional allies were notified in advance, though a Middle Eastern diplomat reported Washington did not coordinate the Freedom Project with Oman prior to Trump’s public announcement.
The suspension occurred after Trump on May 4 announced the beginning of the Freedom Project with 15,000 military personnel to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. At that time, Trump warned that Iranians would be “wiped off the face of the earth” if they attacked American ships in the strait.
