South Korea: Defence Ministry Plans to Expand Cheonghae Unit Operations Closer to the Strait of Hormuz, Adding a P-8A Patrol Aircraft and 75 Personnel
South Korea plans to expand the operations of its anti-piracy Cheonghae unit to waters closer to the Strait of Hormuz, the Defence Ministry said on November 5, following pressure from US President Donald Trump to provide support for the war in Iran. A ministry spokesperson, confirming a report by Yonhap News Agency, said the government will submit a motion to parliament to extend the unit's deployment to the Middle East, which is set to expire at the end of 2026.
The Cheonghae unit has been stationed in the Gulf of Aden since 2009 to ensure the safe navigation of commercial vessels. It currently includes a 4,400-ton-class destroyer, a maritime operations helicopter, up to three rigid-hull inflatable boats and around 300 service members. The motion, which needs to be approved by President Lee Jae Myung and the cabinet, would expand the unit's area of operation to waters near the port of Duqm in Oman, about 650 kilometres (403 miles) from the strait. Seoul will also deploy a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and increase the unit's personnel by 75, the Korea Herald reported.
South Korea relies heavily on oil imports and sourced 70 percent of its supplies from the Middle East in 2025, most of it delivered through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Industry Ministry. Lee said on September 18 that he would not deploy military assets to the Middle East in a way that could draw the country into conflict, but that Seoul was reviewing playing a greater role in safeguarding navigation in the region.
Source: 韩国国防部
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 照片：P-8A「海神」海上巡逻机（资料图），美国海军 摄，Wikimedia Commons，公共领域 / Photo: A P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (file photo), by U.S. Navy, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
