"Beyond Hormuz: What Washington Should Expect..." Topic

… from a Frontline Ally

"The debate over whether South Korea should help secure the Strait of Hormuz is, at bottom, a debate about something larger: what should the United States expect from an ally whose most urgent security threat lies elsewhere?

South Korea has a clear interest in keeping international sea lanes open. As a major energy importer, it depends on the uninterrupted flow of oil and other essential goods. But it also faces a nuclear-armed North Korea across one of the world's most heavily militarized borders. Any decision to deploy military assets abroad must reckon with that reality.

The question is not whether South Korea should contribute to international security. It is what Seoul can contribute without compromising the defense responsibilities it cannot afford to neglect.

I come to this dilemma from personal experience. After graduating from the Korea Military Academy, I served as an Army officer, including service at a frontline guard post on the Demilitarized Zone. I later earned master's degrees in economics from Texas A&M University and in political science from New York University…"

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Armand

The Straights of Hormuz importance will diminish in time.

Key Operational and Expanding Bypass Pipelines

• Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP / Habshan–Fujairah Pipeline – UAE):
• Route: Runs ~380–400 km from Abu Dhabi's interior Habshan oil fields across the Hajar Mountains to the port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman (outside the Strait).
• Capacity: Currently handles roughly 1.5 to 1.8 million barrels per day (b/d).
• Recent Developments: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is fast-tracking an expansion targeting an early 2027 start to double capacity toward 4 million b/d.

• East-West Pipeline (Petroline – Saudi Arabia):
• Route: Crosses Saudi Arabia from Abqaiq in the east to Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.
• Capacity: Historically rated up to 5 to 7 million b/d.
• Recent Developments: Saudi Aramco is expanding throughput capacity to 10 million b/d by repurposing domestic gas networks and upgrading infrastructure, though the line has faced occasional security threats.

• Proposed Sharjah / SNOC Corridor (UAE):
• Route: A planned ~100-kilometer corridor proposed by the Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) to link Al Hamriyah port to the Gulf of Oman (Kalba, Khor Fakkan, or Fujairah) for crude and refined products.

OSC, yes countries are learning.