On the evening of the 16th, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, highlighting the increasing importance of collaboration among nations to secure safety in the Hormuz Strait. This cooperation is deemed essential not only for the safety of the region but also for stabilizing the global economy and international oil prices. The call was made at the request of the U.S., during which Rubio conveyed his assessment of the current situation in the Middle East and sought South Korea's engagement and support for restoring peace and stability in the region.

The conversation comes on the heels of remarks made by President Donald Trump earlier that week, which expressed hope that countries affected by the potential blockage of the Strait, including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, would send naval vessels to the area. Rubio's reference to 'cooperation' during his discussion with Cho can be interpreted as an initiative to formalize U.S. requests for troop deployments to the region, underlining the American government's strategic interests in maritime security.

Minister Cho acknowledged the significance of peace in the Middle East and the secure and free navigation through the Hormuz Strait for the safety and economies of South Korea and other nations. He suggested maintaining close consultations moving forward. Both ministers agreed to meet soon to deeply discuss global cooperation and the pressing issues in South Korea-U.S. relations, though details on any specific support requested by Rubio were not disclosed, as high-ranking officials noted there had been no explicit calls for military assistance during the conversation.