Saudi Arabia reportedly derailed Donald Trump’s short-lived Project Freedom, an initiative unveiled on Sunday to help ships travel through the Strait of Hormuz.
Just two days later, Trump announced the plan had been immediately put on hold in an attempt to secure a peace deal with Iran. However, the reversal came only after Saudi Arabia barred the U.S. military from using its airbases or flying through its airspace, two U.S. officials told NBC News on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia Blocks U.S. Military Access
U.S. officials revealed that Saudi leadership was caught off guard by Trump’s announcement of Project Freedom. In response, Saudi Arabia instructed the U.S. military that it could no longer operate aircraft from the Prince Sultan Airbase or fly through its airspace to support the mission.
Despite a call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the restrictions remained in place. As a result, Project Freedom has been suspended while the administration works to restore access to critical airspace.
Mixed Reactions to Project Freedom
When questioned about the sudden nature of Project Freedom, a Saudi source told NBC News:
“The problem with that premise is that things are happening quickly in real time.”
A White House official countered, stating in a written response that “regional allies were notified in advance.”
However, Trump’s abrupt decision left not only allies but also his own Cabinet members scrambling. Several members had publicly praised Project Freedom just hours before the president abandoned the plan.
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