What did former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin say about the US Navy's capability to open the Strait of Hormuz, and what conditions did he emphasize for sustaining that action?

Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated, 'Certainly, the United States Navy could open the Strait of Hormuz,' but emphasized that 'holding it open for a long period of time would be pretty costly' and stressed the necessity of an 'international effort' involving allies and partners, because 'freedom of navigation is not just important to the United States of America, it’s important to the entire globe.'

According to Austin, why is reopening and securing the Strait of Hormuz urgent, and what diplomatic condition did he link to its restoration?

Austin said reopening the strait is urgent because 'it’s important to not only the United States but the entire global economy. And so, the sooner we can do that, the better,' and he directly linked its restoration to a durable ceasefire, stating, 'We would like to see this ceasefire hold, so that we can get negotiations completed and then we can get the strait open again.'

Former Defense Secretary Austin Says US Navy Could Open Strait of Hormuz

Jun 8, 2026

Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated the US Navy could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, noting that prolonged operations would be costly and require international allies to secure vital oil and gas transit routes.

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