The UAE is pushing to form a "Hormuz Security Force" aimed at breaking Iran's blockad

UAE Joins Push to Reopen Strait of Hormuz, Pitches Multinational Security Force

The UAE is stepping up. The country has told its allies it will join a multinational naval task force aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. And it's not stopping there—it's also lobbying to build a broader coalition to secure the critical Gulf waterway.

According to people familiar with the matter, the UAE has informed the US and other Western nations of its plans. Abu Dhabi will deploy its own navy. There's a growing consensus among some Gulf states and within the Trump administration: without naval escorts, there's no easy path to reopening the strait.

The UAE has a relatively small but modern navy. It's now trying to rally dozens of countries to form a "Hormuz Security Force" to protect the strait from Iranian attacks and escort shipping. Bahrain is the only other Gulf state to back the plan so far, according to two sources. The UAE is hoping to bring Saudi Arabia and other international partners on board.

Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, find themselves in a tricky spot. They want Trump to hit Iran harder, but they're also pushing for a negotiated end to the conflict. And there's another worry: the US might pull its forces out suddenly, leaving behind a wounded—and potentially more aggressive—regime.