The South Korean presidency on Saturday, 19 September 2026, denied that President Lee Jae Myung had rejected a request from his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to send South Korean troops to the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that his opposition to becoming involved in a war did not rule out cooperation on Middle East issues.
The Blue House issued the clarification after The New York Times said remarks Lee made during a press conference on Friday amounted to a rejection of Trump's call for South Korean military cooperation in the Middle East. A South Korean presidential official, who asked not to be named, said: “Lee did not reject Trump's request for South Korean cooperation on Middle East-related issues during a press conference yesterday.”
Seoul considers contributions to protect citizens and national interests
The official said the South Korean government was considering practical ways to contribute, in close coordination with the international community, including the United States, noting that the steps under consideration in Seoul were aimed at protecting South Korean citizens and safeguarding national interests.
He added that the government would continue considering concrete options, provided they remained consistent with the principle announced by Seoul of not intervening in any war or hostilities. President Lee said during a press conference broadcast by national television channels on Friday: “No troops will be sent to participate in or intervene in any war,” in a position focused on avoiding any military deployment that could draw the country into an armed conflict.
Cheonghae Unit continues its missions in the region
At the same time, Lee noted that the South Korean Cheonghae Unit was already in the region, carrying out anti-piracy missions and addressing other threats to the safety of South Korean citizens.
He said Seoul was considering possible ways to strengthen the unit's role, within the limits set by the government against participation in war or combat.
