According to a report by South Korean newspaper 'Kyungshang News' on October 16th, South Korea is considering expanding its military operations in the Middle East. Previously, as an ally of the United States, South Korea faced pressure from US President Trump, who demanded that it support the war against Iran.
According to reports, Seoul is considering expanding the scope of operations of its anti-pirate forces. These forces were deployed to the Gulf of Aden in 2009, and this time their operations will cover the Oman Gulf, which is connected to the Strait of Hormuz. However, the report did not disclose the specific source of information.
Reports say that the government led by South Korean President Li Zemin plans to submit a motion to the parliament to extend the mission period of this unit. The mission period of this unit will expire at the end of this year. In addition, Li Zemin’s government is also considering sending a frigate to the region to strengthen its operations.
According to a statement issued by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense to Reuters, the government is considering submitting a proposal to extend the service period of the Cheongha Counter-Piracy Unit to Congress before its service period expires on December 31, 2026.
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense stated that no decisions have been made regarding extending the operations of this unit. The statement noted that the situation in the Gulf of Aden is deteriorating, with pirate activities increasing significantly compared to a year ago.
According to South Korean YTN television report, the Cheong-hae Anti-Pirate Unit currently includes a 4400-ton destroyer, a maritime combat helicopter, up to three hard-shell inflatable boats, and approximately 300 officers and soldiers.
Previously, Trump criticized Seoul for insufficient support in the war against Iran and reduced the large-scale joint military exercises between the US and South Korea this summer, which caused unease in South Korea.
Lee Jae-myung stated on September 18th that he would not deploy military forces in the Middle East in a way that might drag South Korea into conflict. However, he also mentioned that Seoul is considering taking on a more active role in maintaining maritime safety in the region.
In addition to the Middle Eastern battlefield, regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a Korean Foreign Ministry official stated on October 15 that South Korea will continue to support Ukraine as a “responsible member of the international community”.
According to the ‘Korea Times’, this move by South Korea comes at a time when Ukraine’s announcement of transferring two North Korean prisoners of war has triggered diplomatic disputes between South Korea and Ukraine. The official stated that Seoul will separate its aid to Ukraine from the diplomatic disputes, and will continue to resolve outstanding issues through bilateral consultations.
