South Korea announced plans to expand its anti-piracy naval unit's operations closer to the Strait of Hormuz, with a motion to parliament planned to extend the Cheonghae unit's area of operation. The move follows pressure from United States President Donald Trump for greater support in the war in Iran and comes amid Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) reporting fresh incidents involving oil tankers in the strait.
The government is to submit a motion to parliament to expand the unit's area of operation to waters near the port of Duqm in Oman, roughly 650 kilometres from the strait. The motion also needs approval from President Lee Jae Myung and the cabinet.
"The enhancement of the Cheonghae unit's mission is to protect our citizens and safeguard our economic interests," a defence ministry official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said the reinforcement was strictly for non-combat purposes and that the unit would operate independently of allied forces. "Operations will remain restricted to the open waters south of Oman, and the maritime patrol aircraft will be prohibited from targeting or monitoring Iranian territory, territorial waters or the interior of the strait of Hormuz during their missions," the official said.
The announcement came as the IRGC said two oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire in separate incidents after attempting to use unauthorised routes through the strait. The IRGC said one tanker struck a mine while attempting to cross a passage south of the waterway, while another supertanker caught fire while exiting the route in the eastern part of the waterway.
Trump has criticised South Korea for what he called insufficient support for the Iran war and scaled back major joint military drills with Seoul this summer, a move that unsettled the US ally. President Lee said in September that he would not deploy military assets to the Middle East in a way that could draw the country into conflict, but that Seoul was reviewing a greater role in safeguarding navigation.
South Korea sourced 70% of its oil supplies from the Middle East in 2025, most of it delivered through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the industry ministry. The Cheonghae unit has been stationed in the Gulf of Aden since 2009. The motion also seeks to extend its deployment, set to expire at the end of 2026, the defence ministry spokesperson said. The Korea Herald reported Seoul would also deploy a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and increase the unit's personnel by 75. The unit currently includes a 4,400-ton-class destroyer, a maritime operations helicopter and about 300 service members, according to broadcaster YTN.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies. An expansion of naval operations by a key US ally near the strait represents a significant escalation in regional tensions.
- South Korea's decision walks a tight line between fulfilling US security alliance expectations and avoiding direct entanglement in the US-Iran conflict, a balancing act with major diplomatic and economic implications.
- The IRGC's report of tankers striking mines suggests the security situation in the strait is actively deteriorating, raising the risk of supply disruption and higher energy prices.
Background
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is a vital transit point for about a fifth of the world's oil. Tensions between the US and Iran have frequently centred on this passage, and the Trump administration has pushed allies to contribute more directly to military efforts against Iran. South Korea has maintained an anti-piracy unit in the region since 2009, but its current deployment and rules of engagement are now being formally expanded and extended amid the conflict.
Key Perspectives
South Korean Government (Defence Ministry): Says the expansion is to protect citizens and economic interests, that the reinforcement is strictly for non-combat purposes, and that the unit will operate independently with specific prohibitions on targeting Iranian territory or monitoring the interior of the strait.
President Lee Jae Myung: Has stated he would not deploy assets that could draw South Korea into conflict, but that Seoul was reviewing a greater role in safeguarding regional navigation.
US President Donald Trump: Has criticised South Korea for what he called insufficient support for the war in Iran and scaled back major joint military drills as a result.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC): Reported that oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire after striking mines or attempting unauthorised routes through the strait, signalling heightened danger in the waterway.
What to Watch
- Whether the South Korean parliament and President Lee approve the full motion, and what specific conditions or limits they place on the expanded deployment.
- The reaction from Tehran to the expanded South Korean naval presence, and whether the IRGC reports further security incidents in or near the strait.
- The impact on global oil prices and supply chains if the security situation around the Strait of Hormuz continues to deteriorate.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedSouth Korea plans to expand its anti-piracy unit’s operations closer to the Strait of Hormuz.World news | The Guardian: “South Korea plans to expand the operations of its anti-piracy unit to waters closer to the strait of Hormuz, its defence ministry has said”
- SupportedA defence ministry official said, “The enhancement of the Cheonghae unit’s mission is to protect our citizens and safeguard our economic interests,”World news | The Guardian: ““The enhancement of the Cheonghae unit’s mission is to protect our citizens and safeguard our economic interests,” a defence ministry official told reporters.”
- SupportedThe official said operations would be restricted to open waters south of Oman and patrol aircraft would not target or monitor Iranian territory, territorial waters or the strait’s interior.World news | The Guardian: ““Operations will remain restricted to the open waters south of Oman, and the maritime patrol aircraft will be prohibited from targeting or monitoring Iranian territory, territorial waters or the interior of the strait of Hormuz during their missions,” he said.”
- SupportedThe government plans to submit a motion to extend the Cheonghae unit’s area of operation to waters near Duqm, about 650 kilometres from the strait.World news | The Guardian: “The government is to submit a motion to parliament that would expand the Cheonghae unit’s area of operation to waters near the port of Duqm in Oman, which is about 650km (403 miles) away from the strait.”
- SupportedThe IRGC said two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in separate incidents after attempting to use unauthorised routes through the strait.World news | The Guardian: “The move came as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) said two oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire in separate incidents after attempting to use unauthorised routes through the strait.”
- SupportedThe IRGC said one tanker struck a mine south of the waterway, while another supertanker caught fire while exiting a route in the strait’s eastern part.World news | The Guardian: “One tanker struck a mine while attempting to cross a passage south of the waterway, while another supertanker caught fire while exiting the route in the eastern part of the strait, the IRGC said on Thursday.”
- SupportedTrump criticised South Korea for what he called insufficient support for the Iran war.World news | The Guardian: “Trump has criticised South Korea for what he called insufficient support for the Iran war”
- SupportedLee said in September he would not deploy military assets to the Middle East in a way that could draw South Korea into conflict, while Seoul was reviewing a greater role in safeguarding navigation.World news | The Guardian: “Lee said on 18 September that he would not deploy military assets to the Middle East in a way that could draw the country into conflict, but that Seoul was reviewing playing a greater role in safeguarding navigation in the region.”
- SupportedSouth Korea sourced 70% of its oil supplies from the Middle East in 2025, most of it delivered through the Strait of Hormuz.World news | The Guardian: “South Korea relies heavily on oil imports and sourced 70% of its supplies from the Middle East in 2025, most of it delivered through the strait of Hormuz, according to the industry ministry.”
- SupportedThe motion seeks to extend the unit’s deployment, which is set to expire at the end of 2026.World news | The Guardian: “The motion also seeks to extend the unit’s deployment to the Middle East, which is set to expire at the end of 2026, a ministry spokesperson said”
- SupportedThe Korea Herald reported that Seoul would deploy a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.World news | The Guardian: “Seoul would also deploy a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and increase the unit’s personnel by 75, the Korea Herald reported.”
- SupportedThe Korea Herald reported that South Korea would increase the unit’s personnel by 75.World news | The Guardian: “Seoul would also deploy a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and increase the unit’s personnel by 75, the Korea Herald reported.”