Explained | Why South Korea is planning to assist US in securing Strait of Hormuz after Trump scaled back joint drills
South Korea is weighing a military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz to support US efforts amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict, a decision tied to broader shifts in South Korea-US relations and expected to come up when President Lee Jae Myung meets Emmanuel Macron next week.
On Friday, South Korea announced its consideration of assisting the United States in securing the Strait of Hormuz, following the resumption of strikes in Iran. The country is reviewing options, which could include military measures to support freedom of navigation, according to a statement from the president's office. However, Seoul has denied media reports that a decision on military deployment has been made, stating that a review is ongoing.
The South Korean government is discussing the scale and nature of its potential contribution with countries like the US, Britain, and France. The US recently scaled back joint military exercises with South Korea, citing a "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea's refusal to participate in the US and Israel's war against Iran.
Written by urgent.news from Live Mint's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
