South Korea and US prepare consultations on the Strait of Hormuz
South Korea and the United States are preparing for a series of diplomatic and defense consultations this week, during which they may discuss, among other things, Seoul’s possible military contribution to operations near the Strait of Hormuz. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are coordinating schedules for a meeting that could take place before the UN General Assembly opens in New York on September 22, Korea Herald reports.
Cho Hyun told parliament that a new meeting with Rubio is being arranged within the month. He stressed that the South Korea-US alliance remains strong and that the sides can resolve differences through close consultations.
Assessment of a possible deployment
Washington is urging Seoul to fulfill its investment commitments and increase its contribution to security issues, including considering the possibility of sending troops to the area of the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea sent a group of Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministry officials to the United Arab Emirates to assess security conditions, possible military bases, ports, and logistical support.
The group returned on Thursday, and its findings are expected to be reported to the National Security Council. South Korea’s Defense Ministry emphasized that the trip was not conducted on the assumption that troop deployment would be mandatory and that no final decision has been made. Some lawmakers from the ruling bloc, as well as civic and religious organizations that held a march in central Seoul, opposed such a move.
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Defense dialogue in Busan
At the end of the week, defense officials from the two countries are expected to hold the Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Busan. This is a regular assistant minister-level forum where the allies consider their joint defense posture and key security issues.
Topics may include South Korea’s contribution to operations near the Strait of Hormuz and the transfer of wartime operational control over South Korean forces. South Korea plans to explain the difficulties of making a swift decision on the US request and reiterate its proposal to set a target year for such a transfer at the ministerial-level Security Consultative Meeting, expected in November.
The sides are also nearing an agreement on the first projects under South Korea’s commitment to invest $350 billion in the United States, according to the publication. One possible initial project is said to be a 6.3 GW combined-cycle gas power plant in Encinal, Texas, although negotiations have not yet been completed.
