Trump Announces Plan to Declare the Strait of Hormuz US Territory

Strategy of the Strait

According to data from the analytics firm Signal Ocean, between July 14 and early August, approximately 62 percent of tankers carrying crude oil and oil products transited the strait without sending active transponder signals. This points to a growing circumvention of US controls and uncertainty among shipping companies.

The backdrop is the resumption of the US blockade against Iran, which Washington is using as a pressure tool in the ongoing disputes over the Iranian nuclear program and the regional security situation. Tehran responded by threatening retaliation and classifying ship movements in the region as risky.

The announcement was made during a campaign event where Trump rallied support for Republican candidates in gubernatorial and congressional races. The remark is part of a series of sharply worded foreign policy statements by the president.

Reactions and Risks

International observers assess the move as a significant escalation. A formal annexation or declaration of the strait as US territory would be highly controversial under international law and would further heighten tensions in the Gulf region.

The US government has so far provided no details on possible legal, military, or diplomatic steps to implement such a move. No official statement from the White House has been issued either.

International Law Assessment

Analysts note that control of an international waterway by a single state would violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Any such declaration would therefore need to be supported by Congress and allies, which is considered unlikely.

Oil prices on the markets have already responded in recent weeks to the uncertainty in the region. Should Washington further escalate its confrontational course, increased volatility in energy and transport markets is to be expected.

The developments are also being closely monitored by US allies in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Japan, South Korea, and several EU states are heavily dependent on energy imports from the region and have a direct interest in stable passage through the strait.

Regardless of the legal and political obstacles, the president's mere announcement is causing international unease. It underscores how heavily US foreign policy under Trump relies on high-visibility signals and direct threats.