South Korea says it will expand naval operations closer to strait of Hormuz

South Korea is moving to broaden the operational scope of its anti-piracy naval unit into waters nearer the Strait of Hormuz, according to the country's defence ministry. The planned expansion follows pressure from US President Donald Trump for Seoul to contribute more resources toward American military efforts involving Iran.

Officials intend to present a proposal to parliament that would permit the naval detachment, known as the Cheonghae unit, to patrol open waters around the port of Duqm in Oman. The designated area sits approximately 650 kilometres, or 403 miles, from the critical maritime chokepoint. The initiative still requires formal endorsements from President Lee Jae Myung and his cabinet ministers.

A defence ministry representative briefed journalists that the adjustment aims strictly to safeguard South Korean nationals and economic routes, emphasising that the contingent will function independently rather than joining coalition combat activities. Surveillance flights will face explicit restrictions barring them from monitoring or targeting Iranian land, coastal waters, or the interior of the strait itself, the official stated.

The diplomatic friction follows dissatisfaction voiced by Trump regarding Seoul's level of assistance during the Iran crisis. In response, Washington curtailed significant bilateral military drills earlier this year, creating unease within the allied partnership. In September, Lee noted that while the government was assessing ways to bolster maritime transit safety, he opposed sending forces under conditions that could entangle the nation in an overseas armed conflict.

Heightened safety concerns across local shipping lanes were underscored recently by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which reported fires on two oil vessels and an assisting tugboat. According to the Iranian military, one tanker hit a mine after taking unapproved transit routes, while a second ship and a tug attempting to extinguish flames both caught fire in the eastern waters of the passage.

The Cheonghae force has maintained a presence around the Gulf of Aden since 2009 to shield commercial cargo carriers from piracy. Alongside shifting its perimeter, the government's upcoming legislative request seeks to prolong the unit's Middle East mandate beyond its scheduled expiration in late 2026.

South Korean media reports indicate the unit features roughly 300 personnel, a 4,400-tonne destroyer, a naval helicopter, and multiple rigid-hull inflatable craft. Under the proposed enhancements, Seoul would dispatch an additional 75 troops alongside a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.

Energy security remains a major concern behind the deployment decision. Government trade data shows that South Korea depends almost entirely on external energy resources, obtaining 70 percent of its petroleum imports from Middle Eastern suppliers during 2025, with the vast majority shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.