Seoul Says US Has Not Requested South Korean Troops for Hormuz Strait

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday that the United States has not requested Seoul to send either troops or military equipment to the Strait of Hormuz. The statement came after the South Korean daily newspaper Dong-A Ilbo reported earlier the same day that the US had sought support from allies, including South Korea, by asking them to deploy warships to the strait to ensure freedom of navigation. “There has been no request from the US to send specific troops or equipment (to the Strait of Hormuz),” the ministry’s statement read. However, Seoul and Washington continue to discuss various issues, including those related to the freedom of passage through the Strait of Hormuz and South Korea’s contribution to it, the ministry added. The ministry expressed concern over the rising tensions in the Middle East, adding that it continues to monitor the situation closely. The security of international sea lanes and freedom of navigation are in the interest of all countries and must be protected under international law, according to the statement. Previously, on 14 March, US President Donald Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure navigation. He warned NATO allies that the alliance faces a “very dire future” if it fails to secure the strait.