PatrolsRIYADH/WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia has notified the United States that it will not permit U.S. aircraft participating in maritime security operations in the Strait of Hormuz to use Saudi airspace or launch from its bases.
Following this diplomatic friction, President Donald Trump has suspended the specialized naval mission intended to escort commercial vessels through the strategic waterway, NBC News reports.According to U.S. officials, several Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, were caught off guard by the President’s announcement of “Project Freedom” last Sunday. While President Trump subsequently held discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the two leaders reportedly failed to reach an agreement regarding the operational logistics of the mission.
A Saudi source informed NBC News that Riyadh is currently prioritizing and fully supporting Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran. When asked if the sudden mission announcement had blindsided Saudi leadership, the source noted that events were “unfolding rapidly in real-time.”While a White House spokesperson maintained that regional allies were briefed in advance, a Middle Eastern diplomat told NBC News that there was no prior coordination with Oman before the announcement.
“The U.S. made the announcement first and coordinated with us afterward,” the diplomat stated, though they clarified that regional partners were not necessarily “angry or dissatisfied” by the sequence of events.
