Strait of Hormuz Crisis: US Military Supply Shortages Worsen

Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE are urgently procuring Korean-made Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems and Chiongung air defense missiles.

In particular, as Korea becomes virtually the world's sole supplier of K9 self-propelled howitzers, orders are so backed up that Korean production capacity cannot keep pace with surging demand.

The US, citing reduced dependence on Middle Eastern oil through expanded shale gas production, demands Asian countries share the cost of escorting through the Strait of Hormuz.

Professor Kim Jong-dae criticizes this US demand as logic of 'the one in a hurry paying cleanup costs rather than the one who caused the problem,' noting that the party blocking the strait should bear costs in line with international opinion.

The Fifth Fleet headquarters located in Bahrain is beyond repair, with commanders working from hotels, and as Middle East supply base functions have been lost, Diego Garcia island, 2,200 miles away, has been converted into a new supply base.

This has significantly extended supply distances, worsening supply line shortages, and it has been revealed that the background for Korea's military logistics support ship deployment request is precisely to address these US military supply difficulties.

Two US aircraft carriers deployed to the Arabian Sea are in a state of virtual isolation.

The Inspector General's report confirmed that essential supply systems including food, water, and ammunition have collapsed, with the US military sourcing budgets by diverting unit operating costs and training expenses without requesting war appropriations.

This budget diversion compromises pilot training and operational readiness, leading to military capability gaps in the Indo-Pacific region.

Iran is struggling desperately with inflation reaching 85 percent and shortages of necessities.

Within the US, there are arguments that instead of continuing absurdly expensive escort operations, America should deliver a final blow to Iran and withdraw from the Middle East, indicating that the US has likewise reached a limit in its ability to sustain the war.

Indeed, last spring there was an incident of medium-range missile strikes in that area, and attacking Diego Garcia, a British territory, poses the risk of escalation scenarios involving British military entry.

The high viscosity of crude oil generates additional costs in the refining process, and with limited large tanker docking facilities, transport capacity also requires careful examination.

Canadian crude oil is classified as heavy crude, and Korea's current refining facilities are structured optimally for light crude.

Therefore, Canadian crude oil is more likely to serve as a supplementary supply source to reduce Middle Eastern dependence rather than completely replace Middle Eastern oil.

Refining costs increase when mixing heavy and light crude, and equipment supplementation is necessary for Canadian crude oil imports.

Canada lacks ultra-large tanker loading facilities, making it difficult to operate large-scale 300,000-ton class tankers as in the Middle East, with constraints of having to use smaller tankers for transportation.

A country deeply dependent on Middle Eastern oil faces technical and structural difficulties in transitioning to other complementary alternatives.

Nevertheless, analysts argue that Korea's excellent manufacturing capabilities and engineering capacity can overcome these difficulties, and there is a need to secure alternative supply sources in terms of supply chain diversification.