S. Korea, France confirm cooperation on maritime safety in Strait of Hormuz

Leaders of South Korea and France on Friday pledged to cooperate on maritime safety in the Strait of Hormuz amid the continued Middle East tensions.



According to a joint statement released after the meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron, the two leaders confirmed their commitment to collaborating to secure safe maritime transport routes through the Strait of Hormuz.



The presidents agreed to share policy experiences and strategies to jointly address the economic and energy crises caused by the Middle East conflict, concurring on working together to reduce uncertainty in the global economy.



They also confirmed their commitment to bolstering energy security by expanding cooperation in the nuclear and offshore wind power sectors.



According to local media reports, Macron said the two sides should further strengthen their relationship strategically, particularly in the defense sector. The French president also emphasized the need to ensure that bombings and violence in the region, including the Strait of Hormuz, should be de-escalated.



Macron arrived in Seoul on Thursday for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip to the Asian country since taking office in 2017.