U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that several countries are willing to join Project Freedom to escort cargo ships out of the Strait of Hormuz after they have been stranded since the war with Iran began.
On 5 May 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that several countries, both publicly and privately, have expressed their intention to support "Project Freedom," a U.S.-led effort to secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, he declined to name those countries.
"Many countries agree that we need to take action to solve this problem," Rubio told reporters at the White House when asked how many countries had offered assistance and what capabilities they had.
"Many countries feel compelled to do something," he said, adding that not every country has a navy, and some that do said, "Oh, we'll join in, but only after this issue is resolved."
Rubio pointed out that some countries may offer support in less public ways, emphasizing the sensitivity around revealing such details.
"There are other ways they can help, specific to their capabilities, and I don’t want to disclose which countries those are, for obvious reasons related to security and safety," he said.
Rubio also stressed that the U.S. will bear the primary responsibility for this operation. "I don’t want you to misunderstand: the main responsibility for Project Freedom lies with the U.S. because we are the only country capable of projecting power in that part of the world the way we are currently doing."
"This is a global effort because the stranded ships belong to various countries around the world."
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Source:cnn