President Lee to Attend UK-France Led Virtual Summit on Hormuz on the 17th

Approximately 70 to 80 Heads of State Invited
Blue House: "President Lee Expected to Deliver Message on Energy Supply Chains, Middle East Situation"
Uncertainty Remains Over Whether Joint Statement Will Be Adopted

The Blue House announced that President Lee Jaemyung is positively considering attending a multilateral virtual summit on April 17 to discuss the issue of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. It is reported that the summit, led by the United Kingdom and France, has invited heads of state from approximately 70 to 80 countries.

Yonhap News Agency

On April 16, a senior Blue House official stated regarding President Lee’s possible participation in the virtual meeting led by the United Kingdom and France, “The President is positively reviewing his attendance.” The official explained, “Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a matter of common interest and is also crucial to our national interests,” adding, “This is part of strengthening solidarity with countries that share similar positions.”

The meeting is scheduled for the evening of April 17. The official said, “The exact time is expected to be confirmed tomorrow, but the meeting will start in the evening and is likely to last quite a while,” and added, “Many countries are expected to participate.” The Blue House has identified that the scale of participation has expanded from the initial 30 to 40 countries to include 70 to 80 countries and international organizations. The official noted, “As the number of participating countries continues to increase up to the last moment, it is difficult to state the final total with certainty.”

Regarding the absence of the United States from this virtual summit, the official stated, “The absence of the United States should not be interpreted as exclusion.” The official further explained, “Currently, the United States is a party to the conflict, so within the framework of this international solidarity, the parties involved are not taking the lead.” The official added, “Nevertheless, we are acting in coordination with the United States through ongoing consultations.”

Regarding the message President Lee may deliver if he attends the meeting, the official said, “Topics are expected to cover energy supply chains, the Middle East crisis, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and the need for international solidarity.” The official also indicated that it is still uncertain whether a joint statement will be adopted as an outcome of this summit, stating, “It is not yet clear if there will be a joint statement; there may be some form of agreement at the working level, but further discussion is needed.”

The Blue House also left open the possibility of discussing energy supply chain issues during President Lee’s upcoming visits to India and Vietnam. The official stated, “India and Vietnam also have high energy dependence and share similar concerns with us regarding supply chain stability,” adding, “Rather than assuming direct cooperation, there is room for consultation and collaboration, so related discussions may take place.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.