Gulf States Cut US Access to Airspace and Bases, Derailing 'Project Freedom'

May 8, 2026

Saudi Arabia suspended US access to Prince Sultan Airbase and Saudi airspace after Trump announced Project Freedom on May 4, 2026, a Strait of Hormuz escort operation. Kuwait also cut off US access to its bases and airspace. Trump halted Project Freedom on May 5, 2026. Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz after the US-Israeli attack in late February 2026 and is now reviewing a US peace proposal as of May 6, 2026.

Gulf states airspace restrictions

▪Kuwait cut off US access to its bases and airspace in response to Project Freedom.
▪Saudi Arabia suspended US access to Prince Sultan Airbase and Saudi airspace after Donald Trump announced Project Freedom on May 4, 2026.
▪Saudi Arabia informed the US that it would not support Project Freedom.

Project Freedom suspension

▪Donald Trump halted Project Freedom on May 5, 2026 in a bid to reach a deal with Iran to end the war.
▪Donald Trump's reversal on Project Freedom came after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait suspended US access to airspace and bases.
▪Donald Trump announced Project Freedom on May 4, 2026 to ensure the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Strait of Hormuz closure

▪Strikes launched by Iran at Gulf countries have caused deaths and infrastructure damage.
▪Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz shortly after the start of the US-Israeli attack on Iran in late February 2026.

US-Iran negotiations

▪The Trump administration rejected an Iranian bid to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for an end to the war and the pushing back of negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme.
▪Donald Trump said the US would only settle for Iran's surrender.
▪Donald Trump said on May 6, 2026 that a deal with Iran was very possible.
▪Iran said on May 6, 2026 that it was reviewing a new peace proposal by the US.
▪Donald Trump threatened to resume bombardment of Iran if negotiations fell apart.

Gulf economic impact

▪Saudi Arabia is exporting around five million barrels per day of oil via its East-West pipeline, which carries oil from the Gulf to the Red Sea.
▪Qatar extended its force majeure on liquefied natural gas exports through June 2026.
▪Moody's Analytics described the decline in Dubai's tourism sector as an effective shutdown of large parts of the hospitality sector.
▪Hotel occupancy in Dubai was projected to fall to 10 percent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 80 percent before the Iran war began.
▪The UAE has a pipeline to the port of Fujairah, which has allowed the UAE to export oil at roughly half of pre-war levels.

Perspective of Gulf States (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE)

▪Iranian strikes launched at Gulf countries in response to US naval activity have caused deaths and infrastructure damage in the region.
▪Saudi Arabia and Kuwait suspended US access to bases and airspace because they would not support Project Freedom.