South Korea and Partners Reject Disruption of Hormuz Sea Lanes

South Korea and seven European and Indo-Pacific partners have declared that disruption of major sea lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, is unacceptable, linking maritime security directly to global prosperity and the welfare of vulnerable countries.

Foreign ministers and senior representatives from South Korea, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Poland and Britain issued the joint position after meeting in New York on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. It was the second meeting of the European and Indo-Pacific Partners grouping.

The countries said interference with shipping routes through force, threats, unlawful tolls or conditions on passage poses a threat to security and prosperity. They urged governments to speak out when such disruption occurs and pledged to stand together in support of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the principal international framework governing navigation and maritime rights.

The declaration comes as prolonged conflict in the Middle East has intensified concern over the safety and reliability of commercial shipping. The Strait of Hormuz is a particularly sensitive route for South Korea because of the country's dependence on imported energy. The statement also identified the Bab-el-Mandab Strait, another strategic passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Beyond the Middle East, the eight partners addressed security in the Indo-Pacific. They emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, encouraged dialogue and opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo. The language placed maritime access within a broader effort to maintain a rules-based regional order.

The group also called for a full ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war and reaffirmed support for a just and lasting peace based on the United Nations Charter and international law. It specifically highlighted the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The partners said the security environment has become more volatile and fragmented since their first meeting a year ago. They pledged to deepen cooperation against hybrid threats across multiple domains and strengthen the resilience of their societies, arguing that security and prosperity in Europe and the Indo-Pacific are increasingly connected.

South Korea was represented by Chang Wook-jin, the Foreign Ministry's coordinator-general for international organizations and global affairs. Seoul's participation underscores its effort to coordinate with a wider group of partners on maritime security and international rules at a time when instability far beyond the Korean Peninsula can directly affect the country's trade and energy supply.