SEOUL: South Korea has begun preparations for a possible deployment of a naval support ship and troops to the Strait of Hormuz, local media reports said, as President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on the US ally over its lack of support for the war with Iran.
Seoul last month notified Washington that it was willing to dispatch a naval ship and maritime patrol aircraft, and began preparations to seek parliament’s approval, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said Friday (Sept 4) without identifying its sources. Some 150 troops would be required to operate the ship and aircraft, the report added.
Separately, local broadcaster SBS said South Korea is in talks with foreign countries over ports of call and a base of operations for the envisioned deployment to Hormuz, citing an unidentified senior military official. The government may submit a motion seeking parliamentary approval as early as this month, it added.
South Korea’s presidential office described reports of an imminent Hormuz troop deployment as inaccurate. "No decisions have been made regarding this matter,” the Blue House said in a statement.
South Korea is in close consultations with the international community regarding practical ways to contribute to the speedy restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to peace and stability in the Middle East, the statement added.
If confirmed, South Korea would join a handful of European countries such as the UK and France in sending military assets to the region for safe shipping at the key waterway, a South Korean government official said.
A potential deployment would mark a significant shift in Seoul’s response after mounting pressure from Trump, who has openly questioned South Korea’s contribution to the alliance while demanding greater help for the US campaign against Iran.
The politically sensitive move would show President Lee Jae Myung prioritizing good relations with Washington by committing Korean forces to an increasingly costly Middle East conflict.
The South Korean official said that the country’s military may be able to contribute in a way that does not significantly impact its readiness to respond to developments on the Korean Peninsula.
Trump abruptly ordered the Pentagon to scale back annual joint military drills with the ally last month, citing his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Seoul’s lack of help for the Iran war.
The US military has also scrapped an amphibious landing exercise with South Korea initially scheduled for this month due to the situation in the Middle East.
The US and Iran have intensified tit-for-tat military strikes in recent days, remaining locked between ceasefire efforts and all-out war as the White House struggles to end the six-month conflict.
As of July, the Pentagon put the cost of the war at about $37.5 billion, and the Trump administration is seeking an additional $67 billion in defense funding to help cover further costs. - Bloomberg
