At Least 4 Christian Farmers Gunned Down in Their Fields by Motorcycle Mounted Islamists in Nigeria

The Muslim war on Nigerian Christians has claimed more victims, according to news reports.

Fulani Muslim Militia killed five Christian farmers in Benue State on Saturday, according to TruthNigeria.

Residents said dozens of armed militia members on motorcycles shot villagers working in the fields. At least four people were killed, with some reports putting the death toll at five.

“Five people, three men and two women, were killed on the spot, while several others were seriously injured and are receiving treatment. One person remains missing,” Damian Attah, a security analyst at Benue State University, said.

Victor Ormin, chairman of Gwer‑West Local Government Area, said the Nigerian government needs to intervene.

“We are losing entire communities to these Fulani attackers. Our farmers can no longer access their land safely. We need sustained military presence and proactive operations, not just responses after lives have been lost,” Ormin said.

At least eight Christians were killed and 10 wounded in Plateau state, according to persecution.org.

The attacks were spread across four local government areas.

Nanpet Dala, a volunteer with the International Community on Nigeria, said security forces were no help to the victims.

“Security operatives are very close to the place where the attack happened, but they intentionally refused to intervene,” Dala said. 

U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch said last week that the situation of Christians in Nigeria was “intolerable,” according to the National Catholic Register.

He said Nigeria is torn by “conflict between radical Islamic groups and Christians because of their faith.”

“Unfortunately, there are extremist Islamic groups that have been targeting Christians specifically in their churches and their homes, and the scale and size of the persecution of Christians there is intolerable,” he said.

Burch noted President Donald Trump’s concern for Nigeria’s persecuted Christians.

“The president has said that Christians face an existential crisis in Nigeria, and thanks to his leadership, he is now acting to bring an end to this. We have called on the Nigerian government to take necessary steps to protect Christians, and the United States government is now working in partnership with the Nigerian government to assist them in doing just that,” he remarked.

Steven Wagner, president of Solidarity with the Persecuted Church, said Nigerian Christians must be protected.

“As Nigeria goes, so goes Africa. More Christians are martyred for their faith in Nigeria than in any other country on earth,” he said.

“There is a huge crisis of internally displaced persons. We are calling on the Vatican to increase public awareness of the problem and to continue to encourage the government of Nigeria to make progress in protecting its people,” Wagner added.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post At Least 4 Christian Farmers Gunned Down in Their Fields by Motorcycle Mounted Islamists in Nigeria appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Democrat Rep. Raskin Uses WHCD Shooting Platform to Defend SPLC as ‘Fighting Right-Wing Extremism,’ Slams DOJ Prosecution (VIDEO)

Democrat Representative discusses the SPLC's efforts to combat right-wing extremism during a televised interview.

Democrat Representative discusses the SPLC's efforts to combat right-wing extremism during a televised interview.

WATCH: Rep. Raskin Uses WHCD Shooting to Defend Southern Poverty Law Center as ‘Fighting Extremism’

Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin is once again under scrutiny—this time for remarks made during a Face the Nation interview following the shocking shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Instead of focusing on the immediate facts of the attack, the suspect, or the broader security implications, Raskin quickly pivoted to a familiar political narrative: gun control and systemic “political violence.” 

The response follows a pattern that has become increasingly common in Washington, where major incidents are rapidly folded into broader policy arguments before the full details are even established.

During the interview, Raskin described the chaos inside the ballroom, recounting the moment guests were forced to the ground after hearing multiple loud bangs. 

The scene, by all accounts, was serious and alarming. But rather than staying focused on the event itself, Raskin used the moment to draw comparisons to school shootings and broader gun violence statistics, citing daily shooting figures across the country.

That framing immediately raises questions.

School shootings, while tragic, are statistically extremely rare compared to other forms of violence, particularly gang-related crime and illegal firearm use in major cities. Yet, they are often emphasized in political messaging because of their emotional impact. 

By invoking school violence in response to an incident involving a politically motivated suspect targeting Trump Administration officials, Raskin blurred the distinction between fundamentally different types of crime.

The pivot did not stop there.

In one of the more controversial moments of the interview, Raskin turned his attention to the Department of Justice’s prosecution of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). 

As previously reported by The Gateway Pundit, the organization is currently facing a federal indictment alleging serious financial misconduct, including fraud and the alleged diversion of donor funds.

Rather than addressing the substance of those allegations, Raskin suggested that prosecuting the SPLC could actually contribute to political extremism. That argument is difficult to reconcile with the nature of the charges. 

Federal prosecutors have outlined claims that involve years of alleged financial deception and misuse of funds—issues that would typically demand accountability regardless of political affiliation.

The implication of Raskin’s argument is significant. It suggests that legal action against a politically aligned organization is inherently suspect, even when backed by a federal indictment. 

That position risks undermining confidence in the rule of law, particularly when applied selectively.

The broader issue highlighted by the interview is not just the content of Raskin’s remarks, but the pattern they represent. 

A serious security incident involving an alleged attempt to target government officials quickly became a platform for advancing pre-existing policy positions—ranging from gun control to defending a politically connected nonprofit.

At a time when public trust in institutions remains fragile, responses like this only deepen divisions. 

Instead of clarifying facts, they shift attention. Instead of addressing accountability, they introduce new political narratives.

The result is a conversation that moves further away from the incident itself—and closer to a predictable cycle of partisan framing.

That approach may be politically effective. But it leaves serious questions unanswered.

The Patriot Perspective has recently switched its main platform from YouTube, and we would greatly appreciate it if you subscribed to us there. [HERE]

The post Democrat Rep. Raskin Uses WHCD Shooting Platform to Defend SPLC as ‘Fighting Right-Wing Extremism,’ Slams DOJ Prosecution (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

NEW ‘TROUBLES’? Car Bomb Explodes Outside Police Station in Northern Ireland

Vehicle engulfed in flames at night, with bright orange and yellow fire illuminating the scene.

Vehicle engulfed in flames at night, with bright orange and yellow fire illuminating the scene.
Screengrab Social Media/Telegram

Police were reportedly targeted by an explosive device.

A chilling terrorist act shook the United Kingdom today, as a car bomb attack in Northern Ireland bring back memories of the darkest days of the ‘Troubles’.

During the 1970s, the civil rights movement by the Catholic minority against discrimination devolved into open conflict between Irish republican paramilitaries, pro-UK Ulster paramilitaries, and the British Army.

Bombings, shootings, revenge murders in both Northern Ireland and mainland Britain became the norm, and by the end of the decade, thousands had been killed.

In today’s incident, a car bomb exploded outside a Northern Ireland police station in what law enforcement is calling an attempt to kill officers.

The Telegraph reported:

“A gas cylinder was detonated in the boot of a delivery vehicle after it was hijacked late on Saturday, according to police. Two babies were among residents evacuated when the bomb exploded outside the police station in Dunmurry, on the outskirts of Belfast. No injuries have been reported.

Brendan Mullan, chairman of the Northern Ireland policing board, said: ‘This explosive device was sent to kill officers and cause maximum harm in an attack which was in the heart of a residential area’.”

Northern Ireland’s terrorism investigation unit think that the blast may have been ‘the work of the New IRA’.

Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn:

“The incident happened before a decisive vote on Labour’s new Northern Ireland Bill on Monday, which will scrap immunity from prosecution for Troubles veterans.

The Government has said it would make ‘substantial amendments’ to the legislation after retired military chiefs argued it risked opening up a Pandora’s box of legal claims and elderly veterans being dragged through the courts.”

The context for all this is that failed PM Keir Starmer’s government is prosecuting British army veterans based upon spurious allegations.

Read more from December 2025:

Masked, Armed “New Republican Movement” Threatens Northern Ireland Far-Left Politicians — Cites Mass Immigration and Child Indoctrination as Reasons They Are Now “Legitimate Targets”

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Senator Ron Johnson On the Importance of Fully Funding DHS , “This Obnoxious Obstruction by Democrats Cannot Go On” (VIDEO)

Man in a suit speaking in front of a map and graphics, discussing economic topics in a studio setting.

Senator Ron Johnson appeared on “Sunday Morning Futures” with host Maria Bartiromo to discuss funding DHS. He also discussed the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“Secret Service has not been fully funded for 71 days due to the Democrats’ demands for major changes to the President’s crackdown on illegal immigration,” Bartiromo said.

Senator Johnson explained how the left is funded to carry out acts of violence and rioting.

“Compare the Tea Party to, for example, the BLM protests that turned into riots. Tea Party was famous for having those rallies and picking up the garbage. The BLM riots, there were hundreds of them. They turned to riots. Couple dozen people killed, two thousand law enforcement officials injured. Who is funding the organizing of those things?” Johnson asked.

“You see riot gear show up at some of these protests. Who is funding that?” Johnson asked.

“We had a hearing where the left trained 30,000 activists to basically obstruct justice, ICE officers, and then they encouraged those activists to put themselves in harm’s way, knowing they can get hurt. Well, two of them got killed,” Johnson explained.

“Where do you see the left sympathize with the victims of the illegal immigrant crimes?” Johnson asked.

“They use these martyrs now to defund ICE and CBP, so we have to fund all of DHS,” Johnson continued.

Senator Johnson explained that he supports ending the filibuster in order to fully fund DHS.

“I’ve been pretty public about agreeing with President Trump. We need to end that filibuster. This gridlock, this obnoxious obstruction by Democrats cannot go on,” Johnson explained.

“Is this going to be the incident that gets your colleagues on the left to actually come along and help you fund DHS? Do you think this accelerates that this upcoming week?” Bartiromo asked.

“It certainly should. Again, so many of the Senate Democrats ran as moderates. Now, are they really? Let’s have those seven Democrat moderates. I know John Fetterman will step up to the plate. Where are the other six that will step up to the plate in this moment of national danger?” Johnson asked.

“Do you think this could represent a pivot for the media? They were there in the room last night. They saw what this President is up against,” Bartiromo asked.

“The legacy corporate media by and large is the communication wing of the Democrat party, of the radical left. Are they going to have an epiphany here? I kind of doubt it,” Johnson commented.

Watch:

The post Senator Ron Johnson On the Importance of Fully Funding DHS , “This Obnoxious Obstruction by Democrats Cannot Go On” (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

60 Minutes Interview: President Trump Recounts Moment Secret Service Rushed Him During WHCD Shooting (VIDEO)

Close-up of a man in a suit with a blue tie, seated and looking serious during an interview, with flags visible in the background.

Close-up of a man in a suit with a blue tie, seated and looking serious during an interview, with flags visible in the background.

President Trump on Sunday evening sat down with ’60 Minutes’ correspondent Norah O’Donnell to discuss the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

President Trump, First Lady Melania, Vice President Vance and others were rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after an armed man, identified as Cole Allen, exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents.

The President and his entire Cabinet were safely evacuated after shots were fired in the lobby of the Washington Hilton at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

The shooter, identified as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrence, California, was taken into custody and charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.

The Secret Service rushed to the President and Melania Trump and told them to duck down.

Of course, this isn’t Trump’s first rodeo.

This is the third time Secret Service agents have had to pounce on the President to protect him from a would-be assassin (Ryan Routh and Thomas Crooks).

WATCH:

President Trump recounted the moment that the Secret Service rushed him.

“I wanted to see what was happening, and I wasn’t making it that easy for him. I wanted to see what was going on.”

“And by that time, we started to realize maybe it was a bad problem, different kind of a problem, bad one, and different than what would be normal noise from a ballroom, which you hear all the time.”

“And I was surrounded by great people, and I probably made them act a little bit more slowly!”

“I said, wait a minute, wait a minute, let me see, wait a minute, so, you know, I’m telling guys.”

“I turned, I started walking, and they said, please go down, please go down on the floor.”

“So I went down, and First Lady went down also, but we were asked to go down by the agents as I was walking.”

“I was standing up, and then turned around the opposite direction, and started pretty much walking out, pretty tall, a little bent over because, you know, I’m not looking to be standing too tall. But I was walking out.“

WATCH:

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British King Charles’ US State Visit Confirmed in the Aftermath of WHCD Shooting

Close-up portrait of an older man with light hair and a thoughtful expression, set against a soft-focus background.

Close-up portrait of an older man with light hair and a thoughtful expression, set against a soft-focus background.
Photo Wiki Commons

Charles is coming to Washington despite the many issues in the troubled US-UK alliance.

Many people in the UK establishment have for weeks been suggesting that King Charles III should scrap his long-awaited state visit to the US over their contempt for Donald J. Trump.

These haters say Trump’s frequent ridicule of failing PM Keir Starmer and harsh criticism of the British lack of military preparedness should be grounds to cancel tomorrow’s trip.

And of course, in the last couple of days, Trump also slammed Charles’ younger (and estranged) son Harry, who visited Ukraine and criticized the US.

If you add to that the security issue of yesterday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the pressure for canceling the trip was considerable.

LBC reported:

“Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles’ and Queen Camilla’s US state visit will ‘proceed as planned’ following another ‘assassination attempt’ on Donald Trump.

Security concerns over the royals’ upcoming four-day State Visit remain high in the wake of Saturday night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington DC.

[…] In a statement released on Sunday, Buckingham Palace confirmed the planned visit would take place with ‘adjustments’ following last night’s developments.”

“The Palace added that ‘the King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case, and are looking forward to the visit getting under way tomorrow’.

It comes after a senior Palace source told The Mirror that the decision to alter the program was made on official advice at emergency meetings scheduled in the aftermath of the Washington Hilton shooting.”

Read more:

JUST IN: African Charity Sentebale Sues Estranged Founder Prince Harry for Libel

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Days Before Latest Trump Assassination Attempt, Jimmy Kimmel Gave Mock White House Correspondents’ Dinner Speech Taunting First Lady Melania: “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow”

Jimmy Kimmel speaking at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, wearing a tuxedo, with the White House backdrop illuminated in pink.

Two days before yet another gunman tried to assassinate President Donald J. Trump, psycho Trump-hater Jimmy Kimmel taunted First Lady Melania Trump over the multiple assassination attempts on her husband in a monologue on his late-night ABC show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday.

Jimmy Kimmel speaking at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, wearing a tuxedo, with the White House backdrop illuminated in pink.

Kimmel made the cruel remark during a mock White House Correspondents’ Dinner speech that personally attacked members of the Trump family and administration officials with obscene insults. Kimmel hosted the 2012 Correspondents’ Dinner during the Obama administration.

Saturday’s dinner was attended by President Trump, First Lady Melania, Vice President JD Vance, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and many other high-ranking officials.

Kimmel’s comments taunting Melania Trump included a jab about her birthday today:

“And of course, our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Mel, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.

You know, Melania’s birthday is on Sunday. That’s right. She’s uh, planning to celebrate at home the same way she always does, looking out a window and whispering, “What have I done?

As you’re all aware, Melania is a movie star now. Her documentary had a score of 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a website named after her husband’s testicles.”

Saturday night, a gunman who according to his reported manifesto was intent on killing President Trump and administration officials tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner but was stopped and subdued by Secret Service agents before he could enter the Washington Hilton ballroom where the dinner was being held in Washington, D.C.

The accused gunman, 31-year-old Cole Allen, allegedly shot a Secret Service officer in his protective vest during a brief gun battle with officers. Allen was not hit. No one else at the dinner or hotel was hit by gunfire.

Video of the full Kimmel monologue:

The post Days Before Latest Trump Assassination Attempt, Jimmy Kimmel Gave Mock White House Correspondents’ Dinner Speech Taunting First Lady Melania: “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

WATCH: UFC’s Dana White Says Experience at WHCD Shooting Was ‘F-cking Awesome,’ and That He ‘Literally Took Every Minute of it in’

Image of a formal event with a security presence, featuring a man in a suit and others engaged in conversation, showcasing a mix of attendees in a professional setting.

Image of a formal event with a security presence, featuring a man in a suit and others engaged in conversation, showcasing a mix of attendees in a professional setting.

UFC President and CEO Dana White, who was seated directly in front of President Donald Trump’s table at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday, described the chaos that erupted when shots rang out as “f-cking awesome.”

White spoke to reporters and made the extremely on-brand comments immediately after the incident at the Washington Hilton hotel.

“It started getting noisy,” White told reporters. “Tables getting flipped over, guys running in with guns. And they were screaming, ‘Get down!’ But I didn’t get down. It was f***ing awesome. I literally took every minute of it in. It was a pretty crazy, unique experience.”

The UFC head continued, “We were sitting right in front of the table, right in front of where the president was. Guys came in, looking for shooters. They came toward our table. I thought the shooter was over by us or something, but no. It was a unique experience.”

WATCH:

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, had rushed a Secret Service checkpoint while armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives.

An exchange of gunfire occurred, and a Secret Service agent was shot but was wearing a bulletproof vest and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Allen was taken into custody at the scene.

No serious injuries were reported among attendees.

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the shooter “set out to target folks that work in the Trump administration, likely including the president,” which Allen also discussed in his manifesto, as The Gateway Pundit reported on Sunday.

Over 250 Journalists Sign Letter Demanding ‘Forceful’ Protest Against Trump at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro stated that Allen faces charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault of a federal officer, with additional charges expected at his federal arraignment on Monday.

The post WATCH: UFC’s Dana White Says Experience at WHCD Shooting Was ‘F-cking Awesome,’ and That He ‘Literally Took Every Minute of it in’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Thanks to Trump: The US Now Controls the World’s Major Oil Transit Chokepoints

A naval vessel navigates calm waters under a cloudy sky, showcasing military technology and maritime operations.

A naval vessel navigates calm waters under a cloudy sky, showcasing military technology and maritime operations.
The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Dewey and the Australian destroyer HMAS Stuart patrol the Strait of Malacca. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of War)

 

The world’s critical maritime chokepoints determine who controls the flow of oil, gas, and commerce between the Middle East, Europe, China, and the United States. The five most important chokepoints are the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca, Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Panama Canal. Together, they carry the overwhelming majority of the world’s seaborne energy trade, and within roughly fourteen months, the Trump administration has established or deepened U.S. military positioning at each of them.

The Strait of Hormuz is the single most important chokepoint, through which every barrel leaving the Persian Gulf passes. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iran all export through it, with no realistic overland alternative at comparable volume.

The Strait of Malacca is the primary route from the Middle East to China, Japan, and South Korea, carrying 80% of China’s energy imports, a dependency so acute that Hu Jintao coined the term “Malacca Dilemma” in 2003. Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal function as a single linked system: all oil moving from the Gulf to Europe that does not go around Africa must pass through both.

The Strait of Gibraltar is the exit from the Mediterranean into the Atlantic, through which all Suez-routed oil heading to the U.S. East Coast or northern Europe must pass. The Panama Canal handles 5% of all maritime trade and 40% of all U.S. container ship traffic.

At the Panama Canal, a BlackRock-led consortium reached a $19 billion deal in early March 2025 to acquire CK Hutchison Holdings’ port operations on both ends of the canal, displacing Chinese-linked management. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a security cooperation agreement with Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino on April 9, 2025, and the first official U.S.-Panama Special Operations Forces talks were held on February 18, 2025, followed by joint training in marksmanship, demolition, and battlefield medicine.

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced it would oversee any port sale, and a definitive agreement had not been reached as of mid-2025, with Beijing pushing to include state-owned China COSCO Shipping in any transaction. Panama retains sovereignty and formal operational control under the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, but U.S. military and economic influence over the canal has increased substantially.

On February 28, 2026, U.S.-Israeli strikes under Operation Epic Fury hit more than 500 targets across Iran, including leadership bunkers, missile sites, and nuclear facilities, killing Supreme Leader Khamenei. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation, a waterway through which 25% of the world’s seaborne oil trade and 20% of global LNG had previously passed.

Following the failure of ceasefire talks in Islamabad, Trump announced a naval blockade of all ships transiting to or from Iranian ports beginning April 13, creating what analysts describe as a dual blockade. The U.S. Navy is blockading Iranian ports while Iran restricts Gulf passage. Defense Secretary Hegseth declared that “no one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy,” and confirmed the blockade had gone global, with two Iranian dark-fleet vessels seized in the Indo-Pacific. As of late April, the blockade had redirected 33 ships and boarded three vessels.

The blockade has cut an estimated $150 million per day in Iranian oil revenue, eliminated China’s access to discounted Iranian crude, and rendered unenforceable Iran’s parliament-codified transit toll scheme, under which payments were accepted in Chinese yuan routed through Kunlun Bank via CIPS, outside SWIFT, as a vehicle for RMB internationalization.

The Defense Intelligence Agency has told Congress that Iran still retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack UAVs despite degradation, and Pentagon officials have said mine clearance could take six months after hostilities end. The strait remains contested.

The Strait of Malacca recorded over 94,000 vessel transits in 2024, with approximately half bound for China. In the first half of 2025, 23.2 million barrels of oil transited daily, representing 29% of total seaborne oil trade, with 48% of that volume destined for China.

On April 13, 2026, Hegseth hosted Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin at the Pentagon, announcing a Major Defense Partnership covering military modernization, joint training, and advanced technology cooperation. The agreement gives American forces operational reach over the strait, with aircraft including the KC-46A Pegasus, P-8A Poseidon, RC-135 Rivet Joint, and B-1B Lancer able to patrol it at any time. Washington also pushed for blanket overflight rights over Indonesian airspace; Jakarta resisted, and the provision was dropped from the final statement, though Indonesian officials confirmed talks continue on a preliminary Letter of Intent targeting emergency operations and crisis response.

On the Singapore side, the U.S. cleared a sale of up to four P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in January 2026, with associated torpedoes and advanced mission systems. Singapore already provides the U.S. Navy access to Changi Naval Base under a Strategic Framework Agreement.

China has no near-term alternative to Malacca. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor remains incomplete after years of delays, cost overruns, and security problems in Balochistan. The China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, which would give China Indian Ocean access through Kyaukphyu port, is stalled by Myanmar’s civil war.

Trans-Central Asian routes through Kazakhstan and Russia lack the capacity to absorb any meaningful share of Malacca’s daily volume, and manufactured goods cannot move overland to Europe or Africa at competitive cost or scale regardless of pipeline completion.

China’s strategic and commercial crude reserves cover over 120 days of net imports, but that buffer is finite. Beijing’s “String of Pearls” port access agreements, Gwadar, Hambantota, and discussions in Myanmar and Tanzania represent a long-term hedge, not a present solution, as none are operational military bases. China’s response to the Hormuz crisis sharpened the stakes.

On April 7, China and Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with Beijing’s UN envoy Fu Cong arguing adoption would send the “wrong message,” a veto that served a concrete interest, as Iran had continued shipping crude to China after the war began, with at least 11.7 million barrels delivered since February 28. Beijing used its Security Council seat to shield the chokepoint where it enjoyed preferential access. Six days later, Washington signed the defense partnership with Indonesia, tightening its grip on the chokepoint where China has none.

On April 16, 2026, the U.S. and Morocco signed a 10-year defense cooperation roadmap during the 14th session of the Morocco-U.S. Defense Consultative Committee at the Pentagon, deepening American positioning at the Strait of Gibraltar. Spain and the U.K. control the northern shore of the strait, while Morocco holds the entire southern shore, a gap in Western surveillance coverage the agreement is designed to close. The roadmap integrates Morocco into the Link-16 encrypted tactical data network normally reserved for NATO members, giving the U.S. effective presence on both sides.

Bab el-Mandeb, the “Gate of Tears”, is a corridor barely 30 kilometers wide at its tightest point, through which roughly 12% of global maritime trade passes daily. It functions as a linked system with the Suez Canal: all oil moving from the Persian Gulf to Europe that does not go around Africa must pass through both. When Houthi attacks disrupted the Red Sea from late 2023, Suez Canal transits fell from 2,068 in November 2023 to about 877 in October 2024.

The U.S. anchor at this chokepoint is Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, the only permanent U.S. military base in Africa, hosting AFRICOM’s Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa with over 5,000 military and civilian personnel, supporting counterterrorism, drone operations, and crisis response across the Horn of Africa and Red Sea basin under a lease held since 2002.

The U.S. demonstrated willingness to use force here across two administrations. Operation Prosperity Guardian, launched December 2023, became the United States’ single longest naval engagement since World War II, yet container shipping through the strait still dropped 90% as major carriers rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope. Trump escalated with Operation Rough Rider from March 15, 2025, producing a ceasefire on May 6, 2025, under which the Houthis agreed to halt attacks on U.S. vessels in exchange for a halt to U.S. strikes.

The ceasefire held until the Iran war: on March 28, 2026, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile at Israel and later warned that closure of Bab el-Mandeb was “likely” if the conflict escalated further.

China also operates a base in Djibouti, the PLA Support Base, its first and only official overseas military facility, built at a cost of $590 million and located adjacent to Camp Lemonnier near the Chinese-operated Port of Doraleh. However, the base is a support installation designed for logistics, resupply, and non-combatant evacuation, not a combat force. It has no carrier strike group and no independent power projection capability beyond its perimeter.

Any Chinese naval reinforcement dispatched from the mainland to Djibouti would have to travel either through the Strait of Malacca, where the U.S. is now positioned to interdict via the Indonesia MDCP and Singapore access, or around the western coast of Australia and across the Indian Ocean, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet and Diego Garcia form an interlocking logistics network China cannot replicate.

There is no route from China to Djibouti that does not pass through or near U.S.-influenced maritime space. In a conflict, China’s Djibouti base could be effectively isolated, making it a liability as much as an asset.

While the fighting in Iran and for the Strait of Hormuz continues, and the strait is not yet fully under U.S. control, the Trump administration’s coordinated positioning across Panama, Malacca, Gibraltar, and Bab el-Mandeb represents a strategic architecture that gives the U.S. significant leverage over much of the world’s oil supply.

The post Thanks to Trump: The US Now Controls the World’s Major Oil Transit Chokepoints appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

One Way To See If You Are Overpaying for Your Home Insurance Coverage

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