French, South Korean leaders say they'll work together on Strait of Hormuz

French and South Korean leaders pledge cooperation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed on Friday (April 3, 2026) to work together to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease global economic uncertainties caused by the war in West Asia.

Their summit in Seoul came as U.S. President Donald Trump slammed allies for not supporting the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. Mr. Macron was making his first visit to South Korea since taking office in 2017 as part of an Asian tour that already has taken him to Japan.

Mr. Macron told Mr. Lee at the start of the meeting that the two countries can play a role in helping to stabilise the situation in West Asia, including the Strait of Hormuz, according to South Korean media.

At a joint televised briefing afterwards, Mr. Macron underscored the need for France and South Korea to cooperate to help reopen the strait and de-escalate West Asia animosities, while Mr. Lee said the two affirmed “their resolve to cooperate to secure the safe shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The two leaders did not take questions and did not elaborate on how they would help reopen the strait, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the world's oil passes.

Mr. Lee said he and Mr. Macron agreed to expand cooperation in technology, energy and other areas. South Korean and French officials also signed agreements to cooperate on nuclear fuel supply chains, jointly invest in an offshore wind project in southern South Korea and to collaborate on critical minerals.