The debate over the U.S. enforcement of freedom of navigation on the seas resurfaced in a leaked Signal chat among Trump administration officials. While Vice President JD Vance questioned its importance, citing European trade reliance on the Suez Canal, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that protecting open sea lanes is vital for U.S. commerce and national security. Historically, the U.S. has acted to defend its maritime interests, echoing the sentiment that controlling the seas equates to controlling global trade.
President Trump's decision to hit the Houthis toward the goal of fully freeing the Red Sea to shipping again was fundamentally American.
Freedom of navigation is a core national interest, as open sea lanes are necessary for US commercial shipping and trade.
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