South Korea is increasingly using the British-French maritime initiative for the Strait of Hormuz to preserve the option of a limited military contribution while avoiding direct involvement in the U.S. war against Iran.

President Lee Jae Myung reinforced that approach during his Sept. 8 summit with French President Emmanuel Macron, saying Seoul and Paris would continue working to restore freedom of navigation through Hormuz and stabilize global supply chains.

Lee also recalled South Korea’s participation in the British-French Hormuz initiative launched in April and its willingness to contribute to maritime security.

The framework gives Seoul room to show Washington that