South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called on India to coordinate with Seoul in securing free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz (the critical Persian Gulf chokepoint through which a large share of global oil exports passes), saying the prolonged US-Iran conflict has pushed up energy prices and disrupted supply chains. Speaking in a written interview with The Times of India ahead of bilateral summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday, Lee noted that both countries rely heavily on Middle Eastern energy imports, making the security of the shipping lane vital to their economies. Beyond the immediate maritime crisis, the two leaders were set to discuss broader cooperation on critical mineral supply chains, artificial intelligence, shipbuilding, and defence — areas Lee said could generate significant synergy between Asia's fourth- and fifth-largest economies.