Why South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in Hormuz

AdvertisementSouth KoreaThis Week in AsiaPoliticsWhy South Korea, France prefer diplomacy over force in HormuzPresidents Lee and Macron have agreed to cooperate on safety in the strait but they are likely to wade in only after the war, analysts say 3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenPark Chan-kyongPublished: 9:00am, 4 Apr 2026Efforts by South Korea and France to secure safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz are likely to be centred on a post-war defensive armada with other countries.Analysts also say both nations are wary of joining the Middle East conflict at this point in time and antagonising Iran.South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday revealed he had agreed with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to cooperate on safety in the strategic oil supply strait.AdvertisementLee made the remarks after a summit with Macron, where they discussed ways to mitigate the broader impact of the Iran war, deepen economic ties and strengthen coordination on security issues.French President Emmanuel Macron (left) shakes hands with his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung during a joint press conference after their meeting at the Blue House in Seoul on Friday. Photo: EPA“President Macron and I agreed to share policy-related experiences and strategies in order to jointly address the economic and energy crises triggered by the Middle East war,” Lee said. “We also concurred on working together to reduce uncertainty in the global economy,” he added during a joint press announcement. AdvertisementAdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x