US Military Launches 'Project Freedom' to Secure Strait of Hormuz

ILLUSTRATION via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - The United States Central Command or US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that its forces would "support merchant ships that want to pass freely" in the Strait of Hormuz within the framework of US President Donald Trump's initiative called "Project Freedom."

In a post on the X social media platform, CENTCOM said its forces would begin supporting Project Freedom on May 4, 2026 to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said support for merchant vessels crossing the strait would include guided missile destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 military personnel.

"Our support for this defense mission is critical to regional security and the global economy, while we maintain the naval blockade," said CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper, quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Monday, May 4.

Trump previously stated through the American Truth Social platform that the United States would begin escorting neutral foreign ships out of the Strait of Hormuz safely starting Monday morning Middle Eastern time, and described the move as a "humanitarian gesture" for countries affected by conflicts without direct involvement.

Trump named the initiative "Project Freedom," saying many of the trapped ships were starting to run out of food and other essentials to keep the crew healthy.

The move comes amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz that continue to weigh on global markets, with energy, fertilizer and key industrial commodities prices experiencing sharp spikes in the past two months.