SEOUL - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke by telephone on Monday, with both officials stressing the strategic importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial navigation and energy flows, Seoul said.
Seoul reported that Rubio told Cho that international cooperation to ensure safety in the strait is "more important than ever" to help stabilize the global economy and oil prices. The South Korean government said it would "carefully consider" a request from U.S. President Donald Trump for nations including South Korea, Japan and China to send naval vessels to the Middle East to create a coalition to protect passage through the waterway.
According to the foreign ministry, Cho aligned with Rubio on the centrality of freedom of navigation in the strait for the security and economic interests of South Korea and other countries. Cho proposed that the two allies maintain close consultations going forward.
Japan and Australia have already indicated they do not plan to dispatch ships to the Middle East for the purpose of escorting vessels through the strait, Seoul noted.
President Trump reiterated his appeal on Monday for countries, specifically naming South Korea, Japan and China, to contribute naval forces to a coalition aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The report states the vital waterway has been effectively closed to most of the worlds tanker traffic since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, an action that marked the start of an intensive bombing campaign striking targets across the country.
The exchange between Rubio and Cho highlights continuing diplomatic discussions about maritime security in a corridor vital to international energy shipments and trade. South Koreas cautious stance underscores the need for close allied coordination before committing naval assets to a region where some partners have already declined participation.
Contextual note within source material: The original report included a promotional segment about investment tools and 2026 opportunities. That material is preserved in the source but is unrelated to the diplomatic content summarized here.