The Trump administration is pressing South Korea to contribute resources to protecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that countries heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil should share the costs and responsibilities of maritime security. South Korea is one of the region’s largest oil importers, and the Blue House is reviewing military and noncombat options while seeking to avoid undermining defense readiness on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. Department of Defense has separately urged allies to take a more active role in protecting freedom of navigation, while referring questions about any South Korean deployment to Seoul. The debate follows military clashes with Iran and criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused Korea and NATO members of not doing enough. South Korea has not made a deployment decision. Earlier discussions included about 50 personnel, a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and an explosive ordnance disposal team, excluding the logistics support ship Soyang; an option including the ship would have required roughly 150 personnel. Iran has warned that any South Korean participation in the Persian Gulf or Strait of Hormuz would amount to support for the United States and could bring serious consequences. Opposition parties, civic groups and some Democratic Party members have raised constitutional concerns, while Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jie-won has backed only a limited noncombat role. South Korea also maintains that it will not directly provide lethal weapons, including Cheongung-II, to Ukraine.