[Paris = E-Daily Reporters Hwang Byeong Seo, Kim Sang-yoon·Kim In-kyoung ] President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed during a summit on the 8th (local time) to cooperate closely to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize global supply chains. However, the Blue House drew a line, stating that discussions had not progressed to the point of considering specific measures, such as the dispatch of troops.
As the Ministry of National Defense plans to dispatch a fact-finding team to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and report the findings to the National Security Council (NSC), practical reviews in preparation for a potential troop deployment appear to have become more concrete. While some have raised the possibility of a deployment this coming November, the Ministry of National Defense denied reports that the United States had requested the deployment by a specific deadline, stating they were untrue.

During a joint press conference following the South Korea-France summit held at the Élysée Palace in Paris that day, President Lee stated, “Last April, I participated in the Strait of Hormuz conference led by France and the United Kingdom and expressed the Republic of Korea’s willingness to contribute to the stability of the strait and freedom of navigation,” adding “South Korea and France will continue to cooperate closely to ensure that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the stability of global supply chains are restored as soon as possible,” he added.
Woo Sung-rak, Director of the National Security Office, also noted during a briefing in France, “During a private luncheon, the two sides exchanged views not only on bilateral issues but also on major international concerns, such as the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the war in Ukraine,” and assessed that “by broadening consensus on key issues and discussing strategic cooperation measures, the two leaders further solidified the global strategic partnership between the two countries.”
◇No Discussion of Troop Deployment at Summit
However, the Blue House emphasized that the issue of troop deployment was not specifically discussed during this summit. A senior Blue House official stated, “We should not define the topic discussed today as troop deployment,” adding, “The discussion remained limited to ‘how we can contribute to and participate in international solidarity’ regarding the issue of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which had been proposed by France and the United Kingdom.”
The official continued, “No progress was made in these discussions regarding measures to address the situation in the Strait of Hormuz,” adding, “We exchanged views on our commitment to making a substantive contribution, but there was no progress worth mentioning.”
The official explained, “The President participated in the discussions with the fundamental stance that, recognizing the importance of stability in the Strait, we will work to flesh out specific ways to contribute based on our national interests and public consensus.” Regarding the issue of troop deployment, the official reiterated, “At this stage, it is still under review, and nothing has been decided.”
Regarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, President Macron stated, “The multinational mission is a peaceful one, and we will cooperate with South Korea as soon as the necessary consent is obtained.” He continued, “Last April, our two countries reviewed what we could do to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz at a special meeting that included the United Kingdom,” and emphasized, “We must ensure freedom of navigation and, above all, find a peaceful solution.”
◇NSC Briefing Following Return of UAE Fact-Finding Mission… Denies Rumors of Troop Deployment in November
While the summit focused on the principle of international contribution, working-level reviews are underway domestically to prepare for the possibility of a military contribution. The Ministry of National Defense announced the previous day, “We have dispatched a fact-finding team to assess the situation on the ground in the Strait of Hormuz.” The team departed for the UAE last weekend and is expected to return as early as this week. The findings of the investigation are scheduled to be reported to the NSC upon their return.
The Ministry of National Defense explained, “The purpose of the fact-finding mission is to assess the regional situation and security conditions; this investigation is not premised on an actual troop deployment.” However, given that military authorities sent a fact-finding mission to the region, some observers suggest the move also serves as a preparatory step to verify the necessary operational environment, bases, and port of call in advance should a troop deployment be decided in the future.
Some media outlets reported that the U.S. government requested the deployment of South Korean troops by this coming November and that the South Korean government sent the fact-finding team to the UAE in preparation for this. There is also speculation that if the government swiftly completes the necessary procedures—including approval by the NSC and the Cabinet, as well as consent from the National Assembly—troops or military assets could be deployed to the region as early as November.
However, the Ministry of National Defense has categorically denied reports that the U.S. set November as a deadline for the deployment. The Ministry of National Defense stated, “It is not true that the U.S. requested the deployment of our assets to the Strait of Hormuz with a specific deadline,” adding, “No decisions have been made regarding the deployment at this time.” Accordingly, November should be viewed not as a deployment date finalized by the government or a deadline officially set by the U.S., but rather as an estimated timeline contingent on the speed of future decision-making and National Assembly procedures.
As for the forces to be deployed, defensive assets such as the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, logistics support ships, and mine detection and clearance capabilities have been mentioned. This approach focuses on specialized capabilities—such as maritime surveillance and logistics support—rather than large-scale combat troops, in order to minimize the impact on the Korean Peninsula’s defense posture and reduce the possibility of direct military conflict with Iran. However, neither the specific forces to be deployed nor the size of the contingent has been finalized.
A high-ranking Blue House official stated regarding the dispatch of an investigation team, “It is as explained by the Ministry of National Defense. The review is ongoing, and nothing has been decided,” adding, “The dispatch of an investigation team should be interpreted as part of the review process.” When asked whether the revision of the South Korea-France Military Secrets Protection Agreement and the push for a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement—both of which are prerequisites for the troop deployment—serve to strengthen the foundation for military cooperation, the official cautioned against overinterpretation, stating, “The Military Secrets Protection Agreement and the Logistics Support Agreement have been long-standing issues.”
Iran’s backlash is another variable the government must consider. Iranian diplomatic authorities have warned that if South Korea participates in military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, it could be regarded as complicity in an act of aggression. A senior Blue House official said, “Iranian officials have inquired at the working-level after seeing media reports,” but added, “We explained that we are reviewing the matter and nothing has been decided yet.”