[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Decision on Escort Coalition, Not Independent Deployment to Hormuz

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The government has decided to dispatch troops to the Strait of Hormuz. If necessary, it will establish a command post in Bahrain and participate in the U.S.-led International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC, Hormuz Protection Coalition), indicating an active deployment.

The government's decision to deploy troops was sensed from the Standing Committee meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) at the Blue House on the 16th. While the NSC stated in the meeting on the 9th that "we have also reviewed ways to closely cooperate with the international community in the Middle East region," the wording changed in the materials on the 16th to "we have reviewed measures to protect the lives and property of our citizens and companies and to ensure the safe and free navigation of vessels."

On the same day, Noh Young-min, Chief of Staff to the President, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki Jung Kwan-yong' and said regarding the deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, "In relation to the recent situation in the Middle East, we are reviewing measures to protect the lives and property of our citizens and companies and to ensure the safe and free navigation of our vessels," adding, "considerable progress has been made internally."

The United States has repeatedly requested the Korean government to participate in the joint defense of the Strait of Hormuz. Harry Harris, U.S. Ambassador to Korea, mentioned in a media interview on the 7th, "Korea also obtains a lot of energy resources from the Middle East," and expressed hope that "Korea would send troops there."

The Ministry of National Defense stated that even if it conducts operations independently, it will cooperate with the IMSC if necessary, effectively accepting the U.S. request.

Initially, it was known that our government decided on an independent deployment. Emphasizing the possibility of cooperation with the IMSC reflects that deployment to the Strait of Hormuz cannot be ruled out considering the safety of citizens and companies and the oil supply situation. The government's justification for "securing the safety of citizens" has also increased due to Iran shooting down a Ukrainian passenger plane near its capital, Tehran.

If the Cheonghae Unit participates in the protection coalition, it is highly likely to enter the Strait of Hormuz and conduct operations.

In contrast, Japan has settled on an independent deployment. Japan has concluded to send one Maritime Self-Defense Force escort ship and a P3C patrol aircraft to operate independently not in the Strait of Hormuz but in the Gulf of Oman, the northern Arabian Sea international waters, and the Gulf of Aden international waters.

Japan may have used troop deployment as leverage in the defense cost-sharing issue. Japan's share of the costs for the U.S. forces stationed in Japan amounts to 946.5 billion yen (about 10.3 trillion won) over five years from 2016 to next year. This is based on an agreement between the two countries during the Barack Obama administration, which expires at the end of March 2021. Negotiations for a new agreement will intensify starting next year.

There are also opinions that our government decided to deploy troops to the Strait of Hormuz to use it as leverage in the difficult Korea-U.S. defense cost-sharing negotiations. While appearing to step back from the U.S.-led "joint defense," contributing to stability in the Middle East can be read as a kind of "compromise" considering relations with Iran.