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.
Macron says France could help secure Hormuz only after bombing stops
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.”
