The Donald Trump administration intends to announce later this week that several countries have agreed to form a coalition to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday (the 15th), citing American officials.
According to the newspaper’s reporting, the government is still debating whether these operations would begin before or after the end of hostilities. The White House did not comment on the planned announcement. According to The WSJ, the measure could still change depending on battlefield conditions.
The initiative would involve one of the conflict’s most sensitive maritime routes. The Strait of Hormuz, along the Iranian coast, is a strategic corridor for global oil and gas transportation and has been one of the main focal points of tension since the war began.
The The Wall Street Journal states that, publicly, many countries have been avoiding committing to an escort mission before the end of the fighting, due to the risks involved.
Amid this caution, foreign ministers of the United Kingdom and of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states stated, in a joint declaration released on Sunday, that the bloc’s states “have the right to take all necessary measures to defend their security and stability and to protect their territories, citizens and residents.”
The possible formation of the coalition comes at a moment when the United States is trying to garner international support to reduce the impacts of the conflict on commercial navigation and energy flows in the region. The war enters its third week, with allies still trying to understand Trump’s plan for Iran.
Oil opened the week’s trading higher on Sunday, with WTI and Brent futures surpassing the $100 mark.
