Trump pauses “Project Freedom” after Saudi, Kuwait restrict US airspace and base access

Days after US President Donald Trump announced Project Freedom to guide ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, two US officials have revealed that the move angered Saudis, who feared that Trump's operation could renew strikes in the region.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said his administration may consider reviving the now-suspended maritime security initiative, "Project Freedom", aimed at helping the passage of commercial vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating regional tensions in the Gulf. If a deal is not reached with Iran, Trump added that the renewed effort would be expanded into what he called "Project Freedom plus."Also read: Tehran could withstand blockade for four months, CIA report shows, as fighting flares Speaking to reporters at the White House before travelling to a dinner at his golf course in Sterling, Virginia, Trump said that he might "go back to Project Freedom" if a deal is not reached, but it would be "Project Freedom plus", noting that the initiative would be the same as its predecessor, "plus other things". "We'll go a different route if everything doesn't get signed up, buttoned up," Trump said. "I think Project Freedom is good, but I think we have other ways of doing it also. We may go back to Project Freedom if things don't happen, but it'd be Project Freedom plus, meaning Project Freedom plus other things," he added. This comes after Trump on Tuesday declared that "Project Freedom" will be temporarily paused while the naval blockade of Iran's ports remains in place. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision was taken following requests from Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator to broker a peace deal between Washington and Tehran, and other countries. Trump further claimed that the decision also followed what he described as significant military gains during the campaign against Iran and progress toward a potential agreement with Iranian representatives. The US President further noted that the pause was announced to "see whether or not the Agreement can be finalised and signed" between Tehran and Washington.Also read: Trump punts thorniest Iran challenges in push to reopen Hormuz "Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalised and signed," the post read. President Donald Trump had reportedly halted the project after Saudi Arabia refused to allow American aircraft involved in the initiative to use Prince Sultan Airbase southeast of Riyadh or fly through Saudi airspace, according to NBC News. Trump had announced "Project Freedom" on Sunday. He said countries around the world had requested American assistance to safely guide their ships out of the strategically vital waterway. US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces started the operation on Monday to support merchant vessels seeking to freely transit through the essential international trade corridor under Project Freedom. According to a statement by CENTCOM, the US military will support the operation through deployment of guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members.

Saudi officials were angered by President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement that the U.S. would start guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz, fearing the move could spur more Iranian attacks on Gulf allies.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause a US operation to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz reportedly followed pressure from Saudi Arabia, according to an NBC News report citing two US officials. The operation, dubbed Project Freedom, was unexpectedly announced by Trump on social media on Sunday and began on Monday. However, US allies in the Gulf were reportedly surprised by the announcement. According to the officials, Saudi Arabia — one of Washington’s key regional partners— subsequently suspended the US military’s access to its bases and airspace needed to support the mission. “Trump surprised Gulf allies by announcing ‘Project Freedom’ on social media Sunday afternoon, the officials said, angering leadership in Saudi Arabia,” NBC News reported. “In response, the Kingdom informed the US it would not allow the US military to fly aircraft from Prince Sultan Airbase southeast of Riyadh or fly through Saudi airspace to support the effort.” Riyadh rejects media report on Trump ‘U-turn’ A call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not resolve the disagreement, the officials said, prompting the White House to pause the operation in order to restore access. “Other close Gulf allies were also caught off guard; the president spoke with leaders in Qatar after the effort had already begun,” the report added. A Saudi source, however, downplayed suggestions of surprise, saying Trump and the Crown Prince “have been in touch regularly”. The source added that Saudi officials were also in contact with senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Central Command. When asked whether Saudi leadership was surprised, the source said: “The problem with that premise is that things are happening quickly in real time.” The source also said Riyadh was “very supportive of the diplomatic efforts” by Pakistan to mediate between Iran and the United States. A Saudi source also rejected a US media report saying President Donald Trump announced a pause in an American military operation to guide stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz following an intervention by Riyadh. “This isn’t true,” a source close to the Saudi government said. The United States still has regular access to Saudi bases and airspace, the source added. A White House official, meanwhile, insisted that “regional allies were notified in advance”. A Middle Eastern diplomat said coordination had followed, rather than preceded, the announcement. “The US made an announcement and then coordinated with us,” the diplomat said, adding “we were not upset or angry”. According to the report, Trump launched Project Freedom to facilitate maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Iran. The US military had begun deploying additional assets in the region and two US-flagged vessels had already transited the strait under the operation. Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

Saudi authorities reportedly informed Washington that the US military would not be allowed to operate aircraft from Prince Sultan Airbase near Riyadh or use Saudi airspace to support the mission.

President indicated that deal had materialised but truth was that Saudi Arabia had stopped US use of its basesMiddle East crisis – live updatesWhen Donald Trump abruptly pulled the plug on “Project Freedom”, the scheme to open the strait of Hormuz, barely a day after it had been announced, he gave the impression that an opportunity for a peace deal had materialised that could not be missed.To the surprise of nobody who has been following the US’s recent adventures in geopolitics, Trump’s spin concealed a lot of the underlying reality. It turns out that Trump suspended Project Freedom after Saudi Arabia stopped the US military from using its bases or airspace to carry out the operation, which involved giving air cover to commercial shipping sailing through the strait. Continue reading...