Blue House: President Lee Did Not Reject Trump’s Request for Middle East Cooperation

"Principle of Non-Involvement in War or Combat...
Review of Contribution Measures for National Interest Continues"


Blue House Refutes NYT Report of 'Rejecting Trump's Request'

The Blue House clarified on September 19 that President Lee Jae-myung did not reject U.S. President Donald Trump's request for cooperation regarding the Middle East, in response to a report by The New York Times (NYT). The Blue House stated that President Lee’s statement of a 'non-involvement in war' principle concerning the Strait of Hormuz does not equate to refusing the U.S. request for cooperation itself, and that the possibility of non-combat contributions remains open.

President Lee Jae-myung is answering reporters' questions at a press conference held at the Blue House reception hall on September 18, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In a notice to the media on September 19, the Blue House said, "President Lee did not reject President Trump's request for cooperation on Middle East affairs concerning South Korea at the press conference held yesterday (the 18th)."

The Blue House further explained, "The government has been reviewing practical ways to contribute to the protection of our nationals and the national interest in close communication with the United States and the international community. We will continue to review specific ways to contribute under the principled stance of not becoming involved in war or combat."

The Blue House issued this separate statement in response to the NYT’s interpretation of President Lee’s remarks at the press conference as a de facto rejection of President Trump's request. On September 18, the NYT ran a story titled "Defying Trump, South Korean President Says He Will Not Send Troops to Iran," reporting that President Lee announced he would not send troops or military assets to support the U.S.-led war efforts against Iran, and described President Lee as standing up to pressure from the Trump Administration.

The NYT noted that President Trump had requested South Korea for "a little hand" regarding the Middle East, interpreting President Lee’s remarks as a rejection of this request. President Trump also commented at the time that President Lee did not respond to his request.

However, at the previous day’s press conference, President Lee distinguished between the deployment of troops for wartime operations and activities to protect Korean nationals and merchant vessels. He stated, "There will be no troop deployments that involve participating in or engaging in war," and affirmed, "We have maintained the principle of not deploying military assets in such forms, and this principle will remain unchanged going forward."

He added, "Like other countries, we must at least take necessary measures to protect our merchant ships, oil transport routes, and the lives and safety of our people." Citing the Cheonghae Unit operating near Somalia, President Lee acknowledged, "It is true that we are reviewing and seriously considering ways to strengthen such activities."

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