Trump hints at US pullback from Strait of Hormuz security
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Washington: President Donald Trump suggested the US may end its role in securing the Strait of Hormuz after current operations against Iran conclude, urging other nations to step up.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said Washington would disengage from protecting the vital shipping lane, through which much of the world's oil flows. "What happens to the Strait we're not going to have anything to do with," he stated.
He called on beneficiaries like France, China, and other users to assume responsibility. "China will go up and they'll fuel up their beautiful ships… and they'll take care of themselves," Trump added.
Trump claimed US strikes had neutralized threats, predicting stability post-withdrawal. "We hit them hard. We got rid of a lot of the radicalized lunatics along the Strait," he said, noting improved shipping traffic. Still, he acknowledged risks, like mines disrupting passage.
The comments hint at a broader US naval drawdown in this geopolitically critical chokepoint.
(Inputs from IANS)