Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Korea weighs Hormuz mission options led by US, UK-France coalitions
Cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz are viewed from a distance near Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Friday. AP-Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
US proposes new multinational initiative for freedom of navigation
Korea’s commitment to freedom of navigation at the Strait of Hormuz has become complicated as the United States has proposed a new initiative for this purpose, while Seoul remains engaged in separate talks for a coalition led by the United Kingdom and France.
With President Lee Jae Myung promising Korea’s “practical contribution” to ensuring maritime security in the strait, the government is expected to weigh participation in the two separate initiatives by considering their diplomatic, economic and military impacts.
A Ministry of National Defense official said Saturday that the government would “carefully review its position concerning the Maritime Freedom Construct (MFC),” referring to the new U.S. initiative announced last week to ensure safe passage of ships through the strait.
A vital energy shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively blocked by Iran since the U.S.-Israel war against Iran began on Feb. 28. Around 70 percent of Korea’s imported crude oil passes through the strait.
“We are taking into account relevant issues in a comprehensive manner, including international law, the safety of international sea lanes, the Korea-U.S. alliance, the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and domestic legal procedures,” the defense ministry official said.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said that the government is “continuously communicating with the U.S. about the strait.”
Seoul’s review comes after the U.S. Department of State sent a letter to U.S. embassies worldwide outlining the coalition and requesting the countries’ participation in MFC.
The initiative is jointly led by the State Department and the Pentagon, in the latest attempt by the Donald Trump administration to wrest control of the strait from Iran as global energy prices soar amid stagnant peace talks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the MFC a “critical first step in the establishment of a postconflict maritime security architecture for the Middle East.”
Korea, meanwhile, has participated in separate discussions for a coalition led by the U.K. and France aimed at reopening the vital waterway and safeguarding freedom of navigation.
This collaborative initiative began in March through a series of high-level meetings involving military commanders and heads of state, with Lee himself attending a video conference with representatives from around 50 nations on April 17.
Under the current circumstances, a security analyst said, it is a good choice for Seoul to expand its participation in multinational coalitions, led by either the U.S. or the U.K. and France, but warned that it could “complicate the possible deployment of military assets when required.”
“We don’t have a clear picture of how the coalitions will develop, especially considering the unpredictable nature of Trump,” he said on condition of anonymity.
The analyst listed possible military operations, including protecting civilian vessels and conducting mine-clearing activities. “These activities should be carefully coordinated, considering the limited assets we can deploy, with guarantees on the safety of these assets as a prerequisite,” he said.
According to military and security sources, two feasible early-stage contribution options for the U.S.- and European-led coalitions may include sending liaison officers or personnel to multinational force headquarters to facilitate communication, or engaging in intelligence sharing.