US Defense Secretary Urges South Korea to Step Up in Hormuz Strait Tensions: What’s at Stake?

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegses urged allies, including South Korea, to help ease rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

On May 5 (local time), U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegses told Yonhap News he wants South Korea to play a larger role in easing the chokehold in the Strait of Hormuz, including by participating in the U.S. military’s \”Liberation Project.\”

At a Pentagon news conference, a reporter asked whether South Korea had shown any sign it would respond to President Donald Trump’s social-media call to join the Liberation Project. Hegses said, \”I hope so,\” and added that he wants South Korea to step up.

He said he also hopes Japan, Australia and European partners will step up. He stressed the U.S. is not simply waiting for them but is working to create the conditions to transfer responsibility so those partners can take the lead.

Hegses said President Trump made clear, \”These are your ships. You must play a role in their defense,\” and that the U.S. very much hopes they will do so.

When asked whether U.S. forces and South Korea were in contact about the Korean vessel reportedly struck by Iran, Hegses said U.S. Central Command was communicating with the ship and described such targeted attacks as reflecting Iran’s indiscriminate behavior.

He warned that the cease-fire with Iran remains in place, but cautioned that any attack on U.S. forces or commercial shipping would be met with overwhelming and devastating U.S. firepower.

On May 4 (Middle East time), the U.S. launched the Liberation Project to help commercial vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz break free. U.S. Central Command said it repelled an Iranian attack involving missiles and fast boats, raising concerns that the cease-fire may be unraveling.