Morning Note

Donald Trump announced the U.S. military’s “Project Freedom” initiative to guide stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. By Tuesday, the effort was over. What changed?

New reporting says the president ditched his plan because Saudi Arabia blocked access to its military bases and airspace. The move stripped America of its ability to fly aircraft through Prince Sultan Airbase, which was critical for Project Freedom’s success. The U.S. could not ensure the security of the stranded vessels without the Saudi facility.

Saudi Arabia’s frustration reportedly stemmed from the White House’s failure to consult America’s Gulf allies before announcing Project Freedom. Like at the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, the administration assumed the rest of the world would bend over backward to accommodate the U.S. and Israel. Similar errors will keep happening as long as our leaders think they run the globe with impunity. America is not the empire Washington thinks it is.

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