US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States would take control of the Strait of Hormuz and charge other countries for protecting and administering the strategic waterway. In a telephone interview with Fox News, Trump said: “We will protect the Strait of Hormuz, and we will probably take over its administration as well. We will be the guardians of the strait. We might even call ourselves the ‘Guardian Angel of the Strait’. Either way, we should be paid for doing it.” Trump’s remarks come as the Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of heightened regional tensions. The waterway is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes, with a significant share of global oil exports passing through it. The comments are likely to draw international attention given the strategic importance of the strait and its role in global energy supplies.
