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Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Rubio hold phone talks on Middle East issues

Published: 17 Mar. 2026, 10:06

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, left, speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the start of their talks in Washington on Feb. 3 in this photo provided by the Foreign Ministry in Seoul. [YONHAP]

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held phone talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussing current issues in the Middle East, the ministry said Monday.

The talks were held at the request of the U.S. State Department, it added.

Explaining the situation in the Middle East, Rubio asked for support and interest in efforts to bring peace and stability to the region, the ministry said.

Rubio also stressed the importance of global cooperation to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz for the global economy and to stabilize oil prices, and called for close consultation between the two allies, according to the ministry.

Cho expressed gratitude to the United States for helping Korea evacuate its nationals in the region and sought Washington's continued support in the matter. Rubio confirmed U.S. support, according to the ministry.

The two agreed to meet soon for in-depth discussions on global cooperation and pending issues between the two allies.

Earlier in the day, the Blue House said U.S. President Donald Trump's request for Seoul to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz is an issue that needs sufficient deliberation between the two nations, noting the government intends to handle it "very carefully."

Trump had urged Korea and four other countries to send ships against Iran's attempt to close the waterway.

Yonhap