Seoul: The European Union (EU) has called for an end to the ongoing war in the Middle East before any actions can be taken, but it is ready to engage in efforts to help ensure stability in the Strait of Hormuz, the chair of the EU parliament's foreign affairs has said. David McAllister, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, made the remarks as he struck a cautious note on how the 27-member bloc might contribute to protecting the vital shipping route for global energy supplies amid the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict.

According to Yonhap News Agency, McAllister stated that aligning with global efforts to safeguard the critical choke point has become a delicate challenge for South Korea as well. Given its heavy reliance on Middle Eastern energy imports and its ties with both the United States and Iran, Seoul has taken a measured approach to the matter. "First, the war has to end; the military hostilities have to end," McAllister said during an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.

McAllister revealed that several EU countries have expressed readiness to contribute to 'appropriate' efforts to ensure safe passage of the Strait of Hormuz after the cessation of hostilities. He emphasized that while EU member states are prepared to support "all diplomatic efforts" to ease Middle East tensions, the form of the EU's role in securing freedom of navigation in the strategic checkpoint remains uncertain. "It is too early to say how this engagement could look like," he added.

During his visit to Seoul for meetings with South Korean lawmakers and government officials, McAllister noted that the changing international landscape, marked by America's increasingly transactional approach to foreign policy, calls for the EU to bolster its security pillar to achieve a more "equal footing" with the U.S. He positioned South Korea as a key partner in the defense industry, citing its role in supplying EU member states with defense equipment.

McAllister also highlighted the growing security linkages between Europe and South Korea amid deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. He stressed the interconnectedness of Europe and Asia, stating, "What happens in Europe matters to Asia, and what happens in Asia matters to Europe. We are so interconnected, and that is why we need to closely coordinate our efforts to maintain global stability."