South Korea announced it will not interfere in the Middle East war

South Korea has declared that it will not join the war in the Middle East

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said on September 18 that military forces would not be sent to the Middle East, which could drag the country into war. At the same time, he added that Seoul is considering the possibility of playing a more active role in ensuring the safety of shipping in the region.

South Korea maintains its naval forces near the coast of Somalia as part of an anti-piracy mission. Meanwhile, the country has been resisting US President Donald Trump's calls for more active military support for Washington in a war against Iran.

"No military force will be mobilized that would lead to involvement or entering into a war. I can say this very clearly. We will not deploy military assets for this purpose," Lee said at a press conference.

However, he stressed the need to take minimal measures, like other countries, to protect commercial shipping, crude oil deliveries, and the safety of citizens.

The South Korean government has recently been considering the possibility of sending military forces to the Strait of Hormuz. However, this idea is causing objections within the country.

Trump has criticized Seoul for not providing enough assistance in a war with Iran. The White House leader reduced the major joint military exercises of the two countries' armed forces in the summer of 2026 for this reason. This move worried South Korea, which is an ally of the US.

Earlier, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned South Korea not to join US operations in the Strait of Hormuz and not to send military personnel there. Tehran stated that such a step would lead to serious consequences.