South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to closely cooperate to ensure freedom of navigation and stability in global supply chains in the Strait of Hormuz. Macron expressed his intention to collaborate with South Korea on a multinational mission aimed at restoring peace in the region.
During a joint press conference following their summit at the Élysée Palace in Paris on September 8, President Lee stated, "South Korea and France will continue to work closely to restore freedom of navigation and stabilize global supply chains in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible."
Lee reiterated South Korea's commitment to contributing to international efforts for stability and freedom of navigation, referencing his participation in a conference led by France and the United Kingdom in April.
Macron, who spoke before Lee, noted, "The multinational mission will be peaceful, and we will cooperate with South Korea as soon as relevant agreements are reached."
The leaders' remarks are seen as a further specification of their commitment to securing safe maritime transport routes in the Strait of Hormuz, which was confirmed during their summit in Seoul in April. Macron's mention of a 'multinational mission' alongside cooperation with South Korea has drawn attention to potential follow-up discussions regarding South Korea's participation.
However, neither leader used the term 'deployment' in their statements, and they did not disclose details regarding the nature of contributions or the scale of personnel and equipment involved.
Macron added, "In April, our two countries reviewed what actions we could take for the resumption of activities in the Strait of Hormuz during a special meeting that included the United Kingdom. We have already begun our cooperative relationship through experiences of war, and I believe we can also collaborate in the Middle East."
He emphasized the importance of finding peaceful solutions to ensure freedom of navigation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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