South Korea has proposed extending the patrol area of its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit to waters off Duqm in Oman, a shift that would put its naval assets closer to the Strait of Hormuz, officials said.
The plan, disclosed by Seoul amid diplomatic engagement with Washington, would broaden the unit’s operational reach beyond its traditional focus areas in the western Indian Ocean. The move comes as the United States has urged allies to play a larger role in protecting commercial shipping around the Persian Gulf in the context of heightened tensions with Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s oil supply passes. Extending patrols toward Duqm — a deepwater port on Oman’s coast that has been used by various navies for logistics and support — would place South Korean ships in a region of greater strategic sensitivity and potential risk.
Seoul has framed the proposal in terms of safeguarding merchant shipping and protecting South Korean-flagged vessels and nationals. Details on the timing, rules of engagement and the legal framework for any new missions have not been disclosed, and the government is expected to conduct further consultations with domestic and international partners before any expansion begins.
Officials have emphasized that the Cheonghae unit’s mission would remain focused on maritime security and anti-piracy tasks, while acknowledging that the security environment in and around the Persian Gulf has grown more complex. The proposal will likely be watched closely by regional capitals and by Seoul’s allies as discussions progress.