Eight Nations Vow Not to Tolerate Interference with Transit Through Hormuz

Eight countries from Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, including South Korea, have adopted a joint statement declaring that actions interfering with transit through key sea lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz cannot be tolerated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this on the 23rd. The eight nations held a meeting of foreign ministers and senior officials in New York on Monday (local time) on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly. It was the second such meeting, following the first held last year.

Regarding the Indo-Pacific region, the eight countries stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability, stating that they "encourage dialogue and oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait." On Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they emphasized the importance of a comprehensive ceasefire, saying that "a just and lasting peace in line with the principles of the UN Charter and international law, including independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, is needed."

The eight nations noted that "the security and prosperity of Europe and the Indo-Pacific are increasingly closely interconnected" and agreed to strengthen cooperation to address shared challenges.