Financial Times: US Forces Reduce Protection for Oil Tankers in Hormuz Strait

London – Agencies: The United States has decided to modify the protection mechanism for commercial oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, so that U.S. air coverage is no longer available continuously but is instead concentrated during specific time periods during the day, according to the Financial Times. The newspaper reported that the U.S. Department of Defense has altered its security arrangements for commercial vessels using the southern route through Omani waters, in an effort to improve the efficiency of military resource utilization and reduce the cost of continuous protection operations in an area experiencing ongoing escalation. Under the new arrangements, oil tankers and commercial ships are encouraged to schedule their transit through the strait during specific time windows when U.S. air surveillance and protection are available, rather than receiving round-the-clock continuous air cover. The Financial Times quoted U.S. Central Command as confirming the change in the protection mechanism. The decision comes amid heightened risks to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with ongoing Iranian attacks targeting commercial and military vessels since the outbreak of war in the region, prompting shipping companies to reassess their routes and transit timings. The newspaper notes that providing continuous air protection imposes significant burdens on U.S. forces, as the cost of operating some air defense systems and aircraft used in these missions can reach tens of thousands of dollars per hour, in addition to depleting crews and military capabilities required for long-term operations. The U.S. decision reflects the difficulty of maintaining a costly, time-unlimited military presence to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as U.S. military commitments in the region expand, while the return of oil and shipping flows to normal levels remains largely contingent on the trajectory of the war and ongoing negotiations.