Trump's Iran war is not S. Korea's war

South Korea confronts a challenging dilemma: to what extent should it offer support for a conflict it did not initiate? President Donald Trump appears to increasingly believe that Seoul must answer: more. With the ongoing U.S. war against Iran entering its seventh month, Washington is urging Seoul to contribute to securing the Strait of Hormuz.

Seoul has deployed an inspection team to the United Arab Emirates and is contemplating potential contributions to maritime security, but has not yet decided to send troops. Deployment of any military force would necessitate parliamentary approval.

South Korea has compelling reasons to be deeply concerned about Hormuz. The narrow waterway is crucial to its energy security, and disruptions have led to soaring oil prices. Brent crude recently surged above $107 a barrel as the fighting and attacks on regional energy infrastructure have intensified. However, an economic interest in maintaining the waterway's open passage does not equate to an obligation to join a U.S. war. This boundary has become obscured by Trump's increasingly unilateral approach to alliances.

The most alarming aspect of Washington's pressure is the implication that Seoul might bear more of the burden without a clear reciprocal commitment.