U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly announced ‘Project Freedom’ in the Strait of Hormuz is not a military escort mission, according to major American media outlets. Reports from The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Axios stated that Trump emphasized using the term ‘guide’ instead of ‘escort’ to describe the operation. U.S. officials clarified that Navy warships will not directly escort commercial vessels through the strait but will help guide stranded ships.

CNN cited a U.S. official saying the mission involves showing the way rather than providing armed protection, while Axios reported that U.S. naval ships will remain nearby without direct escort duties. The initiative aims to assist commercial ships trapped in the strait amid rising tensions.

However, European diplomats and shipowners have expressed doubts about the plan’s effectiveness. A shipowner told The Wall Street Journal that traveling under Western guidance might increase the risk of Iranian attacks. CNN also noted that many questions about the project remain unresolved, and experts believe it is designed mainly to provide psychological reassurance to commercial operators.