Austin says US Navy could reopen Strait of Hormuz, at a cost
Why it matters: Keeping the waterway open would likely require allied support because any sustained operation would be expensive.
Former US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US Navy has the capability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if traffic is disrupted, but warned that maintaining access over time would be costly and would likely need support from allies and partners. Speaking at the HSBC Gulf Cooperation Council Exchanges Conference in London, Austin said freedom of navigation in the strait matters to the global economy, not just the United States. He also linked progress to diplomacy, saying he wants a ceasefire between Iran and Israel to hold so negotiations can be completed and the waterway can reopen. Austin, now a national security consultant, also warned that a conflict around Taiwan would hit the global economy even harder than turmoil in Hormuz.