US President Donald Trump is questioning whether or not the US should continue to protect ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, where six tankers have been attacked in as many weeks.
"China gets 91% of its Oil from the Straight [sic], Japan 62%, & many other countries likewise," Trump tweeted Monday morning. "So why are we protecting the shipping lanes for other countries (many years) for zero compensation[?]
"All of these countries should be protecting their own ships on what has always been ... a dangerous journey. We don’t even need to be there in that the US has just become (by far) the largest producer of Energy anywhere in the world!"
Eleven days ago Frontline's 110,000-dwt Front Altair (built 2016) and the Japanese-owned 27,000-dwt Kokuka Courageous (built 2010) were attacked in an incident the US quickly blamed on Iran.
The US Navy's Fifth Fleet is stationed in the area and the mariners who abandoned the Kokuka Courageous were rescued by a US Navy ship.
The US has provided escorts to tankers in the region, especially during the so-called "Tanker Wars" of the 1980's, when Iran and Iraq were attacking merchant ships calling on the other's ports.
A total of 451 ships were attacked during the conflict, 283 by Iraq, which started the attacks in 1981, and 168 by Iran, which did not retaliate until 1984.
Industry sources and shipping veterans have told TradeWinds that while the recent attacks — the two this month and four in May — are reminiscent of the "Tanker Wars," they do not expect attacks to become widespread, as there is no traditional, armed conflict going on in the region.
