Trump Halts Project Freedom After Gulf Allies Reportedly Restrict US Base, Airspace Access Amid Iran Tensions

The Trump administration abruptly suspended plans to support commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reportedly restricted U.S. military access to their bases and airspace, two U.S. officials told NBC. The move signals rising friction between Washington and Gulf allies who bore significant consequences from Iran's military response following Operation Epic Fury.

According to the officials, Saudi Arabia informed Washington that U.S. forces would no longer be permitted to operate aircraft from Prince Sultan Air Base after Trump announced Project Freedom on Truth Social without prior coordination. The unilateral announcement reportedly caught Riyadh off guard, triggering the access suspension. Kuwait is said to have imposed similar restrictions following its exposure to Iranian missiles. The combined restrictions threaten to complicate U.S. military posture and commercial maritime operations in a strategically vital waterway through which roughly a fifth of global oil trade flows.

The development marks a notable rupture in Washington-Riyadh defense ties, a relationship that has long anchored U.S. presence in the Gulf. Officials have not publicly confirmed the scope or duration of the restrictions. The incident raises questions about alliance management under crisis conditions and whether the administration miscalculated the reaction of partners who face direct consequences from regional escalation. As of publication, neither the Saudi nor Kuwaiti governments have issued official statements on the matter, leaving the full implications uncertain and under active diplomatic scrutiny.