Report: South Korea prepares to send military forces to the Strait of Hormuz

South Korea is preparing to send military forces to the Strait of Hormuz with the aim of supporting freedom of navigation in the region. The move currently proposed, which will be brought for parliamentary approval, aims to complete the deployment of forces before the end of the year, media in the country reported overnight, citing government and military sources. According to the reports, the government in Seoul is currently formulating procedures to request parliamentary approval for the deployment, which includes submitting a consent proposal as early as the coming month, after it passes cabinet review.

Within the framework of discussions held with the USA, the UK, and France, several options for the scope of South Korea's military contribution to the effort to ensure freedom of navigation in the Middle East are being examined. Among other things, the possibility of sending a maritime patrol aircraft, stationing a logistics support ship, and sending a special unit for detecting and neutralizing mines is being examined.

Despite the widespread reports, the South Korean presidential office was quick to qualify the situation, stating that although Seoul is discussing practical ways to contribute to freedom of navigation in the strait, reports of a final decision made on the matter are "different from the facts."

Diplomatic tension

The contacts for the military deployment come against a backdrop of diplomatic tension. US President Donald Trump recently announced in an unusual post published on social media that he had reduced joint military exercises with South Korea, partly because Seoul refused to assist him in the struggle against Iran.

"Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, from North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has long agreed to participate in joint military exercises with South Korea," Donald Trump explained at the time.