Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has stated that countries not contributing to the security of the Hormuz Strait will be billed for their lack of support, increasing pressure on the South Korean government regarding troop deployment decisions. As defense discussions between South Korea and the U.S. are set to take place this week, President Lee Jae-myung is also expected to engage directly, raising questions about the specifics of the government's military contributions. However, concerns about an expanded conflict in the Middle East and the safety of troops have made the conditions for withdrawal a critical consideration, potentially prolonging the government's deliberations.
According to diplomatic and security officials, South Korea and the U.S. will hold a meeting of the Integrated Defense Consultative Body (KIDD) in Busan from September 16 to 18 to discuss issues such as the transfer of wartime operational control, joint defense posture, and cooperation on North Korea. Although troop deployment is not an official agenda item, the U.S. has recently emphasized the need for allied contributions to the security of the Hormuz Strait, making it likely that the issue will be addressed during the talks.
On September 14, Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that “countries around the world that have not helped us at all must repay the U.S. when this ridiculous conflict is over, and they will.” He further claimed, “We are doing much more for other countries than for ourselves.”
This reiterates the possibility that the U.S. may demand not only military contributions from countries utilizing the Hormuz Strait but also financial burdens. The South Korean government must consider the safety of maritime routes, the U.S.-South Korea alliance, and the risks of becoming embroiled in Middle Eastern conflicts.
The deteriorating situation in the Middle East is complicating the government's decision-making. Trump hinted on September 13 that he might deploy troops to Iran to secure oil supplies. If such military deployments materialize, there are concerns that a mission initially focused on protecting limited maritime routes could become prolonged or change in nature.
As the government explores options beyond troop deployment, discussions within the ruling party include conditional troop deployment based on peace agreements and troop safety. Jin Sung-jun, a member of the National Assembly's Defense Committee, stated in a recent radio interview that a “permissive environment” must be established for South Korean forces to carry out their mission safely.
At the practical review stage, the level of military contribution and the conditions for ending such contributions have emerged as key issues in the troop deployment debate. The government is reportedly reviewing criteria for mission completion and troop withdrawal based on recent assessments from the Ministry of National Defense's local investigation team.
President Lee Jae-myung is expected to express his stance on major national issues this week. Some speculate that his address may include the government's military contribution level and review direction regarding the Hormuz Strait. Even if the government moves forward with military contributions to the Hormuz Strait, securing a safe “exit strategy” will likely be crucial for public persuasion.
Sung Il-kwang, a professor at Sogang University's Euro-Mena Research Institute, noted, “It is difficult to set withdrawal conditions as we cannot predict how the war will unfold,” but emphasized the need to clarify withdrawal conditions in advance, stating that this will be key to persuasion. He added, “Given the extensive pressure from the U.S., some form of contribution, at least technical support, seems inevitable,” and assessed that the government must make a difficult decision considering various issues tied to the U.S.-South Korea relationship.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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