South Korea signals ‘phased’ support for US-led Hormuz mission after ship attack

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Defence Minister Ahn said the support could include political backing, personnel dispatches and sharing of information and military assets

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ReutersPublished: 2:40pm, 13 May 2026South Korea was reviewing a phased contribution to efforts to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on Wednesday, signalling support steps short of military participation.

Ahn told a press conference with South Korean reporters in Washington that he had conveyed Seoul’s position at a meeting with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Monday.

“We said at about this level that, fundamentally, we will participate as a responsible member of the international community and that we will review ways to contribute in a phased manner,” Ahn said in comments confirmed by Seoul’s ministry.

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Ahn said possible forms of phased support could include expressions of political support, personnel dispatches, information sharing and the provision of military assets, while stressing that no detailed discussions had taken place on expanding South Korean troop involvement.

“There was no deep discussion on something like specifically expanding our military’s participation,” he said, adding that any decisions would need to follow domestic legal procedures.

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