Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Policy and Its Implications on U.S. Maritime Tradition
The ongoing Iran War has taken another unexpected turn. Recently, President Trump announced a 20 percent toll for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The following day, he rescinded the idea after Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated it violated international law. Yet, Trump’s proposed solution remains contentious.
The new proposal involves accepting financial investments from Gulf States instead of tolls, which may be legal. However, this still challenges a foundational U.S. principle. This approach contradicts America’s longstanding stance as a supporter of commercial freedom, shaking a tradition upheld for nearly 250 years.
Trump views these investments as a way to offset the cost of U.S. military presence. This perspective aligns with his transactional policymaking style but ignores the broader implications. Traditionally, the U.S. Navy’s mission is to ensure open and free seas, a principle established since its creation.
The Origins of the U.S. Navy and the Barbary Pirates
The U.S. Navy’s roots tie back to 1794, formed in response to extortion by semi-independent Barbary States in North Africa. These states demanded tribute for safe passage of U.S. merchant ships and ransoms for sailors in the Mediterranean Sea. President George Washington established the Navy to uphold freedom of navigation.
Naval development took time. Washington and his successor John Adams initially continued tribute payments while pursuing diplomacy. President Thomas Jefferson later refused these payments and dispatched a small fleet in 1801. The conflict and U.S. Marine Corps’ first significant battle in 1805 are commemorated in their hymn’s reference to the “shores of Tripoli.”
Tensions persisted until 1815 when American and European pressure ended the Barbary extortion. Yet, Trump’s current proposal appears akin to this historic conflict.
The American Legacy of Free Navigation
America’s commitment to navigation freedom contributed to its status as a global power. In 1918, during World War I, President Woodrow Wilson introduced his 14 points plan. The second point emphasized absolute freedom of navigation, with international action only governing sea closures.
In World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt echoed this principle in the Atlantic Charter with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. It declared peace should allow unrestricted ocean travel post-war.
The 1956 Suez Canal Crisis further highlighted this commitment. President Dwight Eisenhower supported Egypt’s canal nationalization, provided navigation remained free and compensation was given to the canal’s private owner. This decision prioritized navigation freedom over alienating allies.
Reflections on Current Policy
This history questions the spirit of Trump’s new policy. America’s tradition has long been to shield navigation freedoms without collecting tributes, whether through direct tolls or investments. Michael Szalma, a retired U.S. Army officer and history professor, underscores this perspective.