The administration of Donald Trump is calling on partner nations to join a new international coalition aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US State Department cable seen by Reuters.
The cable, dated April 28 and approved by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outlines plans for the creation of the Maritime Freedom Construct (MFC), described as a joint initiative between the State Department and the Pentagon.
Officials say the MFC is intended to serve as a foundation for a post-conflict maritime security framework in the Middle East, focusing on safeguarding critical shipping routes, protecting infrastructure, and ensuring long-term energy security.
Under the proposal, the State Department would act as the diplomatic hub, coordinating engagement between participating countries and the global shipping industry. Meanwhile, the Pentagon operating through United States Central Command (CENTCOM) would oversee real-time maritime coordination and maintain direct communication with vessels passing through the strait.
The initiative was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
According to the cable, US embassies have been instructed to brief partner nations on the proposal by May 1, excluding countries such as Russia, China, Belarus and Cuba, which Washington classifies as adversaries.
Participation in the MFC could take several forms, including diplomatic support, intelligence sharing, sanctions enforcement, or naval deployments. The US emphasised that countries would not be required to divert resources from existing maritime commitments.
The cable also noted that the initiative is separate from the president’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran and ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
Shipping activity through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz once responsible for transporting roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas has dropped sharply following military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28. In response, Tehran imposed a blockade on the waterway.
The proposal comes amid a continued stalemate in efforts to resolve the conflict, with Washington also pursuing measures to curb Iran’s oil exports, including a naval blockade of its ports.