President Donald Trump’s call for South Korea and four other nations to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded, has deepened concerns within the South Korean government.
Seoul fears that participating in a multinational naval operation in the strait could entangle South Korea in a potential armed conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
Nevertheless, the Blue House is carefully weighing the option of sending warships for escort purposes, given that South Korean vessels are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
A Blue House official stated on March 15 that they are closely monitoring President Trump’s social media comments regarding warship deployment. The official emphasized that Seoul will maintain close communication with Washington and make a prudent decision.
The Blue House underscored that the safety of international sea lanes and freedom of navigation serve the interests of all nations and are protected under international law. They expressed hope for the swift normalization of global maritime logistics based on these principles.
The official added that the South Korean government is closely watching developments in the Middle East and the actions of relevant countries while comprehensively evaluating measures to protect its citizens and secure energy supply routes.
Earlier, on March 14, Trump announced on Truth Social that many countries affected by Iran’s attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz, particularly those directly involved, will be sending War Ships to cooperate with the U.S. in maintaining the strait’s openness and safety. He specifically mentioned South Korea, Japan, China, the UK, and France.
Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, in retaliation to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, has caused international oil prices to surge. As public opinion sours due to the prolonged conflict, Iran has sought support from key allied nations. The inclusion of South Korea, China, and Japan, which heavily depend on oil imports through the strait, is seen as a call for these stakeholders to take responsibility for the waterway’s security.
While the Trump administration has not yet formally requested South Korea to dispatch warships, reports suggest that the South Korean government has initiated preliminary discussions.
The government is open to dialogue, considering that a simple escort operation would not be viewed as direct combat involvement.
A senior Blue House official stated that its vessels are in the Strait of Hormuz. Given President Trump’s expressed intentions, it will carefully review this matter. Regarding concerns that sending warships could be perceived as direct involvement, the official clarified that it would be difficult to view this as direct combat participation.
If the government decides to deploy warships, the Cheonghae Unit, currently stationed in the Gulf of Aden, is likely to carry out these operations as part of a joint mission. The high dependence on oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz provides economic and security justifications for such a move. The Blue House’s reference to the safety of international maritime routes and freedom of navigation is seen as indirectly establishing the rationale for the escort operation.
The Cheonghae Unit previously conducted independent escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz during heightened U.S.-Iran tensions in 2020.
However, the current Middle East crisis has escalated to a worst-case scenario with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, making independent operations by the Cheonghae Unit unfeasible. Government sources indicate that only joint operations are possible under these circumstances.
Despite President Trump’s specific mention of South Korea and four other countries, the South Korean government believes more allied nations could potentially participate. A senior Blue House official assessed Trump’s message, stating that it doesn’t view this as limited to just five countries.
Even if the government decides to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, significant challenges are anticipated, as participation in a multinational escort operation would require parliamentary approval.
For South Korea, the government must balance ongoing military negotiations with the U.S., including increased defense spending, the potential acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, and revisions to the nuclear agreement, while gauging public opinion on the possible deployment of warships.
