South Korea in ‘Catch-22 situation’ over Trump’s call for warships to secure Hormuz
Seoul is expected to seek national consensus and wait for the outcome of the Takaichi-Trump summit before deciding, observers say
A key US ally, South Korea has also maintained relatively balanced relations with Gulf countries that are both vital to its energy security and major markets for construction and plant projects.
Analysts warn that a hasty military response could severely damage diplomatic ties and economic interests with Iran and other Middle Eastern states.
“This is a Catch-22 situation for Seoul,” said Doo Jin-ho, a senior research fellow at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. “It has to choose between harsher US pressures including tariffs and potential harm to its people and businesses in the region and soured ties with Iran.”
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump called on “China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK and others” to send ships to the strait, which he described as being “no longer a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated”.