AJ
⚡️ US informed of plan by South Korea to deploy naval assets to the Strait of Hormuz
➡️ South Korea’s government appears to have taken a U-turn on a previous decision not to assist the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, following a report by Chosun Daily which claimed the government had prepared a plan to deploy naval assets, including the Navy’s military support ship Soyang and the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.
🔹 The plan is reportedly being prepared for submission to the National Security Council and would require approval by the National Assembly, and if approved, would mark South Korea’s first US-requested overseas deployment since the 2004 dispatch of the Zaytun Division in Iraq 22 years ago.
🔹 According to Chosun Daily, the scale hasn’t been finalised, but the deployment would involve at least 150 personnel, but South Korea are prioritising non-combat assets, including maritime patrol aircraft and support ships, in an apparent effort to support freedom of navigation in the Strait without directly participating in combat operations.
🔹 The South Korean Presidential office also clarified that no final decision had been made on South Korean troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz and the review is ongoing.
🔹 According to Yonhap, a presidential official commented: “South Korea may be able to make military contributions to global efforts to ensure free navigation through the Strait, to the extent that such contributions do not compromise defence readiness, if it decides to do so.”
