Why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (right) toasts with Emmanuel Macron during a luncheon for the French leader at the presidential office in Seoul on Friday.

Photo: Yonhap/dpa 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.

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) shakes hands with his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung during a joint press conference after their meeting at the Blue House in Seoul on Friday.

Photo: EPA “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.” Shin Beom-cheol, a

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