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US weighing new maritime alliance to secure Strait of Hormuz: WSJ
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WASHINGTON/DUBAI: The United States is exploring the creation of a new multinational maritime alliance aimed at securing commercial shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, the The Wall Street Journal reported, as tensions with Iran persist and disrupt the key global trade route.
The proposed initiative, dubbed the “Maritime Freedom Construct” (MFC), would focus on ensuring the safe passage of vessels in the Gulf region through enhanced intelligence-sharing, diplomatic coordination and stricter enforcement of sanctions, according to the report.
A US State Department cable sent to embassies outlined the plan and instructed diplomats to encourage partner countries to join the coalition, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the matter.
The alliance would be jointly overseen by the US Department of State and US Central Command, with the State Department leading diplomatic outreach while CENTCOM would provide real-time maritime data and coordinate operational intelligence among allied forces.
A senior US official described the proposal as one of several options available to President Donald Trump to address the situation in the Strait of Hormuz alongside regional allies.
The report also said CENTCOM had drawn up plans for a potential new wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, aimed either at breaking a deadlock in negotiations or delivering a decisive blow before any full cessation of hostilities.
One option under consideration includes taking control of parts of the strait to keep shipping lanes open.
US military officials were expected to brief Trump on the plans later on Friday.
The US president has also shared a map on his Truth Social platform referring to the waterway as the “Trump Strait,” drawing sharp criticism from Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi rebuked the move, urging Washington to respect historically recognised geographical names.
In a post on social media platform X, Araqchi shared a past video clip of Trump in which he appeared to mistakenly refer to the Strait of Hormuz by the same name before correcting himself.
Separately, the Trump administration has said that hostilities with Iran had effectively ended following a ceasefire in early April.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers the truce had halted the fighting, while a senior administration official said no exchanges of fire had taken place since the ceasefire began on April 7.
Changes in trade routes
The disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a key artery for global oil and goods — has already forced significant changes in trade routes.
According to AFP, companies are increasingly shifting to overland transport, moving goods by truck from ports such as Jeddah to Gulf destinations including the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait.
The Saudi port city is emerging as a regional logistics hub, although analysts say it is struggling to cope with the surge in demand, leading to congestion and delays.
Alternative ports outside the strait, including Sohar in Oman and Khor Fakkan and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, are also seeing increased traffic, while Jordan’s Aqaba port has become a key transit point for cargo heading into Iraq.
Hormuz disruption putting strain on global economy: UN chief
Meanwhile United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that disruptions in the waterway are putting severe strain on the global economy.
In a statement, Guterres said instability in the Strait of Hormuz was affecting energy, transport, food and industrial markets worldwide, urging all parties to pursue dialogue to prevent further escalation.
“The current crisis risks pushing the region — and the global economy — toward deeper instability,” he said.
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