"South Korea Will Be Taken Advantage of as an Errand Boy": Expert Voices Concern Over Trump’s Request to Dispatch Warships to Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump has made a public request for South Korea to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a Middle East expert to express skepticism, calling it an "absurd demand."

On May 6, Professor Park Hyundo of the EuroMENA Institute at Sogang University stated on YTN Radio, "The problem is, if we accept the request, President Trump will not say, 'Thank you, we will return the favor,' but rather, 'Since South Korea complied, I can use them here next time, and there as well.' In other words, South Korea would become an errand boy, taken advantage of."

U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

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Earlier, on May 4 (local time), the United States launched a military operation called "Project Freedom" in the Strait of Hormuz to protect civilian merchant ships stranded in the area, but decided to temporarily halt the operation after just one day. However, the U.S. maintains its policy of continuing the blockade against Iran.

Regarding Project Freedom, Professor Park remarked, "I do not understand why they are asking us to enter when even the U.S. Navy cannot. The U.S. says it will stop the Freedom operation, but will continue the maritime blockade. However, maintaining a blockade costs money, so they want other militaries to step in."

He added, "President Trump’s statements change overnight, within hours, or even within minutes. It is impossible to commit troops under such uncertainty. If we were to participate, it would only make sense if UN member states passed a resolution to carry out the operation to open the Strait of Hormuz as a multinational force, providing clear legitimacy."

Professor Park also analyzed that a summit between the U.S. and China could be a turning point in the Iran war. Since Iran maintains friendly relations with China, China could play a significant role in persuading for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and in the broader context of the conflict.

He explained, "Holding a summit during a war is unusual, so the pace of the conflict will likely slow until a U.S.-China summit is held. If this summit creates an opportunity to open the Strait of Hormuz through dialogue with China-say, if China continues to urge Iran, and the U.S. responds by saying, 'If Iran lifts the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, we will also lift our counteroffensive'-that would be the best scenario."

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