South Korea: Naval patrol expansion targets waters near Oman port
Seoul plans to move its anti-piracy unit closer to the Strait of Hormuz to protect economic interests amid pressure from Washington.
By Malik Salazar ·
South Korea’s defense ministry announced plans to expand the operational area of its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit to waters near the port of Duqm in Oman. This location sits approximately 650 kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz. The government intends to submit a motion to parliament to authorize this shift in deployment scope.
A defense ministry official told reporters that the mission enhancement aims to protect citizens and safeguard the country's economic interests. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, clarified that the reinforcement is strictly for non-combat purposes. The unit will operate independently of allied forces during these operations.
Specific constraints will apply to the new deployment. Operations will remain restricted to open waters south of Oman. Maritime patrol aircraft will be prohibited from targeting or monitoring Iranian territory, territorial waters, or the interior of the Strait of Hormuz. This limitation is designed to prevent the unit from becoming entangled in direct conflict.
The decision follows pressure from Donald Trump, who criticized South Korea for providing insufficient support for his war in Iran. Trump scaled back major joint military drills between the two nations this summer, a move that unsettled the South Korean alliance. Seoul has been reviewing a greater role in safeguarding navigation in the region since September 18, when President Lee Jae Myung stated he would avoid deploying assets in a way that could draw the country into conflict.
The move comes as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reported that two oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in separate incidents after attempting to use unauthorized routes through the strait. One tanker struck a mine while crossing a passage south of the waterway. Another supertanker caught fire while exiting the route in the eastern part of the strait. A tugboat that approached the second vessel to help extinguish the fire also caught fire.
The Cheonghae unit has been stationed in the Gulf of Aden since 2009 to ensure safe navigation for commercial vessels. The current deployment is set to expire at the end of 2026. The motion seeks to extend this deployment and includes adding a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and increasing personnel by 75. The unit currently includes a 4,400-ton-class destroyer, a maritime operations helicopter, up to three rigid-hull inflatable boats, and about 300 service members.
South Korea relies heavily on oil imports, sourcing 70% of its supplies from the Middle East in 2025. Most of this oil is delivered through the Strait of Hormuz. The motion requires approval by President Lee Jae Myung and the cabinet before the expanded operations can proceed.
