Trump: US Ready to Provide Insurance and Escort Ships Through the Strait of Hormuz

Washington, D.C. — The United States government says it will provide political risk insurance and potentially naval escort for commercial vessels transiting the Persian Gulf, particularly the Strait of Hormuz. The move comes amid escalating threats to tanker ships amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. The step was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump after rising security tensions along the world’s most important energy shipping lane. Cited by Reuters on 4 March 2026, Trump said Washington would provide political risk insurance for ships operating in the Gulf via a government agency, while also considering naval escort if security conditions deteriorate. According to Trump, the measure aims to ensure global energy supplies are not disrupted by the conflict in the region. ‘If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible,’ Trump said. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. The route is one of the world’s most strategic energy corridors, as it represents the principal exit for oil exports from Gulf countries. Crude oil from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran largely moves through the strait to global markets, especially Asia. Globally, around one-fifth of the globe’s oil trade is carried via the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, disruptions to shipping on this route could trigger large swings in international energy markets. In several recent incidents, at least three tankers were damaged in the Gulf region and one crew member was reported killed, heightening concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the area. As part of stabilising energy markets, Trump said the U.S. government has instructed the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide political risk insurance for maritime trade in the Gulf.