The government is considering dispatching troops to the Strait of Hormuz. On July 29, the Ministry of National Defense mentioned some related news reports and said, "Currently, there have been reports like 'the dispatch of the Cheonghae Unit' but nothing has been decided." At the same time, the ministry added, "We are considering a number of ways to protect our ships." The dispatch of troops to the Hormuz Strait suddenly emerged after U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton met Chung Eui-yong, chief of the National Security Office on July 24. Cheong Wa Dae announced that Chung and Bolton decided to discuss cooperation for the safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and it seems the request for our troops was made at this time.

On July 19, the United States invited diplomats from various countries to Washington D.C. and persuaded them to join a coalition to jointly protect private vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Basically, the plan is to dispatch the Cheonghae Unit to this coalition. It is likely for the military to expand the unit’s operation area, from escorting Korean vessels in the Gulf of Aden to cover the Strait of Hormuz. The expansion of the operation area is possible without consent from the National Assembly, since it will not be a new dispatch of troops. The Strait of Hormuz is a major point where 70-80% of crude oil heading to South Korea pass through, so the security of this region is directly connected to the economic interests of South Korea.

But before discussing the dispatch of troops, we need to take a look at what triggered the tension in the strait, the tension between the U.S. and Iran. It all started last May, when the U.S. Donald Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the “Iran nuclear treaty,” a treaty jointly signed with the five members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany during the former Obama administration. Since then, the U.S. has blocked Iranian export of crude oil fueling the tensions. When a series of oil tankers were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz last May and June, the U.S. accused Iran for masterminding the attacks and is now trying to form a coalition of allies.

In short, the tension in the Strait of Hormuz was triggered by the U.S. and its unilateral withdrawal from the agreement. Furthermore, the details of the attacks on the tankers are still unclear. In this situation, joining and participating in a military coalition led by the U.S. will only heighten military tension in this region. South Korea has no cause to send its troops, while it has great risks to take if it does. It could shatter relations with Iran and relations with other Middle East countries siding with Iran. This is why even Japan, which claims to be the closest of allies to the U.S., is being cautious about sending troops.

We are aware that the government cannot easily refuse the U.S. request, since the U.S. is an ally and also has the power to determine peace on the Korean Peninsula. But if the issues on the Korean Peninsula need to be resolved peacefully, then conflicts in other regions should also be resolved in a peaceful way. Sending South Korean troops to the Strait of Hormuz goes against this principle.