Saudi Arabia reportedly derailed Donald Trump’s short-lived escort mission in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump unveiled Project Freedom on Sunday, revealing the U.S. would help ships travel through the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, he suddenly announced the plan had been immediately put on hold in the hopes of finally cutting a peace deal with Iran.
But Trump only called it quits after Saudi Arabia barred the U.S. military from using its airbases or flying through its airspace, two U.S. officials told NBC News Wednesday.
Officials in Saudi Arabia were surprised by Trump’s announcement of Project Freedom, and not in a good way, the U.S. officials told NBC News. Leadership responded by telling the U.S. military it could no longer fly aircraft from the Prince Sultan Airbase, or fly through Saudi airspace to support the effort.
Trump spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but to no avail, the U.S. officials said. As a result, Project Freedom has been put on hold while the president scrambles to restore access to critical airspace.
When asked whether Project Freedom had come as a surprise, a Saudi source told NBC News: “The problem with that premise is that things are happening quickly in real time.”
Meanwhile, a White House official said in a statement that “regional allies were notified in advance.”
U.S. allies weren’t the only ones caught unaware by Trump’s changing plans. His own Cabinet members were singing the praises of Project Freedom just hours before the president chucked it in the waste bin.