The commander of the US Central Command inspects the Strait of Hormuz and emphasizes safeguarding freedom of navigation

October 25, the commander of United States Central Command visited the Strait of Hormuz for inspection. Since this summer, the total volume of crude oil exported from Gulf Cooperation countries with the assistance of the US military has exceeded 1.5 billion barrels. General Brad Cooper flew over this key international waterway aboard a US CH-47 Chinook helicopter to assess the current operational environment on site. In the past six months, more than 3,000 commercial vessels have safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz under the protection of the US Central Command. Cooper emphasized, "We will continue to work closely with our Gulf partners and the shipping industry. This visit fully demonstrates our determination to firmly uphold freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz." As one of the busiest oil transport routes in the world, the Strait of Hormuz carries nearly one-third of the global seaborne oil trade, and the security of its shipping lanes has long been a focus of international attention. The US action this time also indirectly reflects that the safe passage of maritime transportation routes in the Gulf region remains a core concern for the relevant regional parties.