President Lee’s State Visit to France: Spotlight on Hormuz Talks with Macron

Korea's Level of Participation in UK-France-Led Hormuz Coalition in Focus amid Trump’s Pressure
Summit with Macron on the 8th Could Define the Scope of Military Contribution

As President Lee Jaemyung embarks on his state visit to France, the issue of deploying troops to the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the most closely watched topic of the Korea-France summit. With U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly pressuring South Korea to contribute to matters concerning Iran, a key point of interest during Lee's trip is whether South Korea will clarify ways to make a military contribution alongside France, which has led multinational efforts to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, who made a state visit to France, are greeting the welcoming guests on the Air Force One aircraft upon their arrival at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, France, on the 6th (local time). 2026.9.7 Yonhap News Agency

Upon arriving in France on the 6th (local time), President Lee is scheduled to attend the ‘Lumiere Summit,’ an international film and video conference, near Nice in southern France on the 7th. This schedule completes the exchange of state visits between the two countries just five months after President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Korea in April. The two leaders also met at the G7 Summit in June.

For his first event after arriving, President Lee met with creators from five continents to share views on the future of the film and video industries and on expanding cooperation in the cultural sector. Lee then gave a speech as co-chair at the opening ceremony of the Lumiere Summit on the 7th, after which he will head to Paris. From the 8th, official state visit activities will begin in earnest, including a wreath-laying at the Arc de Triomphe, an official welcome ceremony, a one-on-one luncheon with President Macron, and an expanded summit. The two leaders plan to discuss responses to rapidly changing global dynamics while also expanding economic cooperation in advanced technology sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace, nuclear energy, and biotech.

The most prominent agenda item is multilateral cooperation regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The UK and France have led multinational military mission initiatives to secure safe passage through the Strait, and South Korea has also participated in related discussions. The South Korean government is reviewing both military and non-military options to restore freedom of navigation. However, the Office of the President maintains a cautious stance, stating that “no decision has been made” regarding a potential deployment to the area. During a roundtable with civil society on the 4th, President Lee said that he was “deeply deliberating” troop dispatch and indicated that no progress had yet been made on the issue.

Nonetheless, there remains the possibility that this summit will move the discussion forward. A senior presidential official suggested on the 4th that “France was the first country to take active steps for the international coalition on Hormuz navigation and has held discussions with us,” implying that the Korea-France summit could address this topic. Regarding military contributions, the official added, “Within limits that do not significantly impair readiness on the Korean Peninsula, we could show some flexibility.” Wi Sunglak, Director of the National Security Office, also indicated during a pre-visit briefing that the two countries “could achieve concrete cooperative outcomes in responding to the rapidly changing international order, and in security, the economy, science and technology, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchange,” through this summit.

The fact that the U.S., led by President Donald Trump, is escalating its pressure further increases the likelihood that this matter will be discussed during the state visit. On the 30th of last month, President Trump expressed public dissatisfaction with South Korea’s lack of an aggressive response to the U.S. call for support regarding Iran. On the 4th, he shared a Washington Post column on his social media, arguing that South Korea should sell its domestically produced Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine. With Trump exerting pressure on security contributions from South Korea not only for Hormuz but also for aid to Ukraine, the scope of demands is expanding on all fronts.

President Jaemyung Lee, on a state visit to France, is seen conversing while looking at a commemorative medal gifted by Eric Ciotti, Mayor of Nice who came to greet him at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport on the 6th (local time). 2026.9.7 Yonhap News
Photo by Yonhap News

The stability of the Strait of Hormuz is an issue with direct economic and security implications for South Korea. As 70% of the crude oil imported to Korea passes through this strait, there is little disagreement on the need to restore freedom of navigation. The main question is whether South Korea will move beyond diplomatic support and send personnel or military assets. Should it proceed to actual troop deployment, parliamentary approval, domestic public opinion, relations with Iran, and readiness on the Korean Peninsula will all need to be considered.

Within and outside the Office of the President, it is widely seen that the Korea-France summit is more likely to focus on discussing the nature and scope of missions South Korea could take part in, as well as cooperation with the multinational mission unit, rather than immediately producing a ‘deployment decision.’ Accordingly, the summit with President Macron presents a diplomatic test for President Lee to find a point of balance among U.S. demands, the situation in the Middle East, and security interests on the Korean Peninsula, and to outline South Korea’s approach to the Hormuz issue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.