Singapore, Singapore – Web Desk: Qatar has rejected proposals to impose a permanent transit toll on vessels passing through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, while indicating it could support temporary fees linked to restoring maritime navigation after disruptions.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Security Forum in Singapore, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said Doha opposes any long-term system that would charge ships for using the Strait of Hormuz.
According to remarks reported by Al Jazeera, the Qatari official warned that permanent transit fees would ultimately increase costs for consumers worldwide by raising shipping and energy transportation expenses.
He emphasized that Qatar and its Gulf partners oppose the introduction of long-term tolls or any permanent fee structure in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes and a key corridor for global oil and gas exports.
However, Al Thani noted that Qatar could be willing to discuss a temporary fee mechanism if it were specifically designed to fund mine-clearing operations or help restore safe commercial navigation following security-related disruptions in the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a crucial chokepoint for global energy markets, linking major Gulf oil and gas producers to international markets. Any changes to shipping regulations in the region are closely watched by governments, energy companies, and global investors.
