School of War Is Trump Forcing the Strait of Hormuz Open? With Rich Goldberg and Garrett Exner
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May 4, 2026 
Garrett Exner, former Marine and naval analyst, and Rich Goldberg, national security adviser on Iran and maritime policy, unpack tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. They explain Project Freedom, discuss safe lanes, escorts and missile risks. They debate whether ceasefire holds, who might finance transits, and the economic and strategic pressures shaping next moves.
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Project Freedom Is A Coordination Cell Not Full Escort
- Project Freedom is primarily a coordination and rapid-response cell offering intel, mapped lanes, and on-call assets rather than a full naval escort fleet.
- CENTCOM will share mined-route intel, rapid-response small-boat protection, and standing ROEs to engage threats immediately.
Mine Mapping Enables A Risk-Reduced Transit Route
- The U.S. has likely mapped safe lanes and cleared or identified mine threats using undersea operations to offer shipping confidence.
- Mapping plus rapid-response helicopters and aircraft aim to mitigate mines and small-boat harassment risks.
Missiles Are The Hardest Threat To Mitigate
- Missile threats remain the highest risk to transits because intercepting anti-ship ballistic or cruise missiles requires proximate missile-defense umbrellas.
- Small boats and mines are manageable; missile defense posture is the critical gap.