Kamal Ghorui
Donald Trump’s sudden decision to pause a US-led effort to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz may have been driven by growing anger from key Gulf allies, particularly Saudi Arabia, according to a report by NBC news.The report said Trump’s “Project Freedom” announced abruptly on social media on Sunday caught several Gulf nations off guard. The operation was meant to help commercial ships safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions in the Middle East war escalated. However, two US officials told NBC News that Saudi Arabia reacted sharply to the announcement and temporarily suspended US military access to critical bases and airspace.According to NBC News, Riyadh informed Washington that US aircraft would not be allowed to operate from Prince Sultan Airbase, southeast of Riyadh, or pass through Saudi airspace in support of the mission. The move reportedly came after Saudi leaders were angered by the lack of prior coordination over the operation.A phone call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failed to immediately resolve the dispute, forcing Trump to halt the operation in order to restore access to the strategically vital airspace, NBC News reported.The diplomatic friction emerged as signs of possible de-escalation in the region began to appear. Trump said on Wednesday that a deal with Iran to end the conflict was “very possible” after “very good talks” over the previous 24 hours.Markets reacted positively to hopes of easing tensions. Tokyo’s Nikkei index surged 5.7 per cent, while oil prices remained relatively stable after falling sharply over the previous two days.At the same time, the conflict continued to spill across the region. Hezbollah confirmed that a senior commander from its elite force had been killed in an Israeli strike near Beirut. France also moved its aircraft carrier, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, towards the southern Red Sea in preparation for a possible mission to secure navigation routes near the Strait of Hormuz.
