Report: South Korea considers expanding its military mission in the Middle East - Sarmad
South Korea is considering extending its anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman under Trump's pressure.
Translated by Qiyas from سرمد — Original source
The Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that South Korea is considering expanding its military operations in the Middle East, as the U.S. ally faces pressure from President Donald Trump to provide support for the war against Iran.
The newspaper, without citing its sources, said Seoul is considering expanding the operations of the Chungheui anti-piracy unit, which was deployed to the Gulf of Aden in 2009, to include the Gulf of Oman leading to the Strait of Hormuz.
The report stated that the administration of President Lee Myung-bak plans to submit a proposal to parliament to extend the unit’s mission, which is scheduled to end at the end of this year.
The newspaper added that the government is also considering sending a frigate to the region to bolster operations.
In a statement to Reuters, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense said the government is considering the possibility of submitting a proposal to parliament to extend the unit’s mission before it ends on December 31, 2026.
The ministry said no decision has yet been made regarding the details of extending the anti-piracy unit’s operations.
