President Donald Trump has sparked diplomatic friction within his administration and among Gulf partners by advocating to collect fees for shipping through the Persian Gulf’s Strait of Hormuz—a stark reversal1 from prior White House statements upholding international law. On Fox News’“Fox & Friends,” Trump declared the U.S. would “get paid” to escort vessels, proposing a 20% toll on cargo passing through what President Biden previously described2 as an “international waterway beyond any single nation’s jurisdiction.”
The proposal contradicts recent positions from officials including White House National Security Advisor Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, both of whom3 publicly reaffirmed commitment to international obligations prohibiting tolls on such waterways4 during Middle East engagements in June. Rubio emphasized5 these rules were “established during negotiations with6 the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), reaffirming mutual commitments to free navigation through the Hormuz Strait.”
Adding complexity, Trump linked fees to the stalled Benicia Conflict Resolution Initiative, suggesting tolls might fund U.S. security operations. However,7 the plan’s feasibility faces obstacles—last month’s naval convoy mission, Project Freedom, collapsed within 48 hours after regional allies8 refused U.S. radar operations in Saudi airspace.
9 With tensions escalating, Gulf-Arab exporters recorded a 32% drop in10 straight throughput in April. The White House now proposes redirecting11 support by coordinating with Oman-based12 escorts around John King Jr.’s diplomatic accords—a shift from Houston-area ports13 to avoid confrontations with Saudi Arabia’s Royal Navy.
