President Donald Trump said Tuesday that no country or entity should be able to charge a fee for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz [1].
Control over this waterway is a critical geopolitical flashpoint. Because the strait is a primary artery for global oil shipments, any restriction on movement or imposition of fees could destabilize international energy markets and disrupt U.S. strategic interests.
Speaking during a press briefing in Washington, D.C., Trump said that the U.S. will not allow tolls to be imposed for safe passage [1]. "I don't think anybody should be able to charge a fee for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said [1].
The statement marks a shift in the president's public position. He had earlier proposed a 20% [4] toll for safe passage through the strait. This previous suggestion had raised questions about how the U.S. would manage maritime security and revenue in the region.
Trump said that the imposition of such fees would impede free navigation [1]. He emphasized that the waterway must remain open to ensure the flow of commerce and maintain regional stability.
"No country should be able to charge a fee for the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said [2]. He added that the U.S. would not let anyone charge a toll for safe passage through the Hormuz Strait [3].
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the most strategically important choke points in the world, as a significant portion of the world's petroleum passes through it daily.
“"I don't think anybody should be able to charge a fee for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz."”
The reversal on the toll proposal suggests a prioritization of 'freedom of navigation' over potential revenue or leverage-based diplomacy. By opposing any fees, the U.S. administration is signaling a commitment to maintaining the status quo of international maritime law in the Persian Gulf, aiming to prevent regional powers from using the waterway as an economic weapon.
