Why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

Efforts by South Korea and France to secure safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz are likely to be centred on a post-war defensive armada with other countries. Analysts also say both nations are wary of joining the Middle East conflict at this point in time and antagonising Iran. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday revealed he had agreed with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to cooperate on safety in the strategic oil supply strait. Lee made the remarks after a summit with Macron, where they discussed ways to mitigate the broader impact of the Iran war, deepen economic ties and strengthen coordination on security issues. “President Macron and I agreed to share policy-related experiences and strategies in order to jointly address the economic and energy crises triggered by the Middle East war,” Lee said. “We also concurred on working together to reduce uncertainty in the global economy,” he added during a joint press announcement. Macron also voiced hope of expanding cooperation across a broad range of areas, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors, space and culture. He said Seoul and Paris could strengthen security cooperation and work together to help stabilise the situation in the Middle East, including ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. On Thursday, Macron had said a military operation to liberate the strait was “unrealistic”, expressing frustration at US President Donald Trump’s shifting statements on the war. “There are those who advocate for the liberation of the Strait of Hormuz by force through a military operation, a position sometimes expressed by the United States,” Macron said in Seoul. “I say ‘sometimes’ because it has varied. It is never the option we have chosen and we consider it unrealistic.” He added that such an operation would take an inordinate amount of time and expose vessels to coastal threats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. “This can only be done in concert with Iran. So, first and foremost, there must be a ceasefire and a resumption of negotiations.” ‘Negotiated solution’ Shin Beom-cheol, a former South Korean vice-defence minister, said Seoul had no intention of intervening in the conflict, noting that Paris also opposed direct participation and favoured a negotiated settlement. “When the US stops military operations against Iran, other countries such as South Korea and France could jointly engage in talks with Tehran for the reopening of the strait,” Shin said. “A post-war negotiated solution would be feasible because Iran would not want a situation in which it is unable to sell its own oil,” he said, noting that continued disruption even after the war could invite retaliatory measures against Iranian exports. He added that once the war ended and the US withdrew, countries such as South Korea and France could jointly form a purely defensive naval fleet to secure safe transit if Tehran made “unreasonable” demands. The UN Security Council is set to vote on a Bahrain-sponsored proposal that would allow countries to use a wide range of measures to secure the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tehran to warn against any “provocative action”. Among the council’s five permanent members, China, Russia and France are opposed to the proposal. Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said South Korea could dispatch a minesweeper to support international efforts to reopen the strait after the conflict. “South Korea should continue sending clear messages to Tehran that it has no intention of antagonising Iran, even if it joins such international efforts,” Yang said. Trump has told allies unwilling to do more to support the US war effort to “go get your own oil”, singling out Britain and France as unhelpful during the month-long conflict that has roiled global energy markets. He also said the US was getting “very close” to achieving its objectives in Iran but warned that the next two weeks would involve intense military activity. With hopes for an early end to the conflict fading, South Korea’s Lee instructed his government to coordinate efforts to ensure the safe passage of 26 South Korean ships and their roughly 180 sailors who have been stranded in the Persian Gulf. The presidential office has denied reports that the government was considering paying tolls to Iran for safe transit. “Our government’s position is that, in accordance with relevant international norms, free navigation and safety guarantees for all vessels, including our own, must be ensured as soon as possible,” it said in a statement on Thursday.

Why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Presidents Lee and Macron have agreed to cooperate on safety in the strait but they are likely to wade in only after the war, analysts say

Presidents Lee and Macron have agreed to cooperate on safety in the strait but they are likely to wade in only after the war, analysts say