South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun avoided directly answering queries about whether the US had formally requested South Korea to deploy warships to the Middle East. During a parliamentary session, Cho provided ambiguous responses when questioned by lawmakers regarding any formal or informal requests from Washington for troop deployment to support US military actions against Iran. US President Donald Trump recently urged allies, including South Korea, to send naval vessels to safeguard the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s call for allies to assist in securing the shipping route was reiterated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a phone conversation with Cho. The importance of cooperation to ensure security in the strait and stabilize global economy and oil prices was emphasized. Cho expressed a stance of maintaining external ambiguity while prioritizing national interest and citizen safety, mentioning a potential meeting with Rubio in Paris for further discussions.
There are concerns among lawmakers from different parties in South Korea that joining a potential conflict with Iran could jeopardize the country’s economy, heavily reliant on oil imports from the region. Some legislators highlighted the constitutional requirement for parliamentary approval before deploying troops or naval vessels. The government is urged to carefully consider Trump’s request, with an emphasis on the need for mutual respect and consideration in the South Korea-US alliance.
