Korea and Canada Discuss Middle East and Strait of Hormuz Stability
- South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand held a telephone conversation on April 13, 2026, to discuss the current situation in the Middle...
- The diplomatic engagement follows a March 20, 2026, joint statement issued by South Korea and seven other countries, including Canada, Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping channel responsible for 20 percent of the global oil and gas supply.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand held a telephone conversation on April 13, 2026, to discuss the current situation in the Middle East and the stable management and navigation of the Strait of Hormuz.
The diplomatic engagement follows a March 20, 2026, joint statement issued by South Korea and seven other countries, including Canada, Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. The statement condemned attacks by Iran in the Gulf and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, calling on Iran to comply with the principle of freedom of navigation.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping channel responsible for 20 percent of the global oil and gas supply. South Korea’s foreign ministry stated on March 20, 2026, that the decision to join the joint statement reflected the direct impact that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could have on our energy supply and the economy
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Diversification of Energy Imports
As the Iran war continues to disrupt Middle Eastern supplies, South Korean oil refiners have increased the import of Canadian crude oil. According to a government official overseeing oil imports, refiners are actively using Canadian crude as an alternative supply because they are currently unable to secure Middle Eastern barrels.
Prior to the outbreak of the Iran war, Korean refiners had only imported Canadian crude in small volumes on a trial basis. The recent increase in purchases is supported by a surge in Canada’s export capacity to Asia, following the completion of a major pipeline expansion project in 2024.
Despite the increase, Canadian crude remains a secondary option compared to supplies from the United States. Canadian crude is a high-sulfur heavy oil, whereas South Korea’s refining infrastructure is primarily optimized for Middle Eastern crude.
Energy cooperation between the two nations extends to liquefied natural gas (LNG). LNG Canada Phase 12 is set to provide 14 million tonnes per annum through a joint venture that includes the Korea Gas Corporation, Shell, and Mitsubishi.
Maritime Security and Diplomatic Efforts
The disruption of the waterway has left dozens of South Korean ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz for several weeks. On April 10, 2026, the South Korean Foreign Ministry announced the dispatch of a special envoy, former ambassador to Kuwait Chung Byung-ha, to Iran.
The envoy’s mission is to consult on the safety of South Korean citizens, vessels, and crew, and to discuss the passage of all vessels through the waterway. This diplomatic push occurs despite a 14-day truce that took effect during the second week of April 2026, as the United States and Iran prepared for peace talks in Pakistan on April 11, 2026.
The U.S. Government stated that the truce agreement was conditional on Iran unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, though reports from April 10, 2026, indicated that this had not yet resulted in a meaningful increase in shipping traffic.
In addition to these diplomatic efforts, South Korea’s industry minister has provided assurances regarding the stability of the country’s oil supply despite the blockage of the Strait.