President Donald Trump said the U.S. would take military action against nations attempting to control the Strait of Hormuz during a Cabinet meeting.
The warning comes as the U.S. seeks to maintain the flow of global energy supplies through one of the world's most volatile maritime chokepoints. Any disruption to the waterway could trigger immediate global economic instability.
During the meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2024, Trump said the waterway must remain open and free of tolls or seizure [1]. The president said Oman, a U.S. ally, would be "blow ’em up" if they did not behave [1].
Trump also directed warnings toward Iran, saying the U.S. would "knock them out harder" [3]. These remarks followed an incident where three U.S. naval destroyers came under fire while transiting the Strait [3].
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway situated between Oman and Iran [2]. Its strategic importance is tied to the fact that approximately 20% of global oil passes through the passage [1].
The president said the U.S. must prevent any single nation from seizing control of the route. This stance coincides with ongoing negotiations to ensure the waterway remains open for international commerce [1, 3].
Trump's remarks were described as off-the-cuff comments made during the White House gathering [1]. The administration continues to emphasize that the freedom of navigation is a non-negotiable security priority for the U.S. military in the region.
“"Behave or we’ll have to blow ’em up."”
The rhetoric signals a high-pressure approach to maritime security in the Middle East. By threatening both a regional ally like Oman and a primary adversary like Iran, the administration is attempting to establish a deterrent against any attempt to monetize or blockade the Strait of Hormuz, which is essential for global oil price stability.
