French President Emmanuel Macron expressed willingness to cooperate with South Korea to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz, but conditioned such collaboration on a cessation of current bombing activities in the region.
Macron Seeks Cooperation with South Korea on Strait of Hormuz
“We discussed the situation in the Middle East at length, and I believe we can do useful things to stabilise the situation in Hormuz, and more broadly once the bombardments have ceased,” Macron said after a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Seoul on Friday. He also stated a desire to “strengthen our ties in strategic and defence matters.”
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies, handling approximately a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
US President Donald Trump has stated the US is taking action against Iran until the strait is reopened. He has also criticized other nations, including South Korea and France, for not contributing to efforts to secure the waterway, while maintaining a military presence in the region.
Macron urged all parties to be “serious” on Thursday, and told reporters in Seoul that the US was undermining trust and creating uncertainty by questioning NATO’s military commitments.
Bloomberg
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