U.S. once morest China-Russia solidarity
Searching for ‘democratic solidarity’
“I wish for security cooperation with the Republic of Korea
European countries are increasing
The phenomenon of ‘blocking’ between democratic and authoritarian countries is deepening due to the strategic competition between the US and China and the Ukraine crisis.
The Yun Seok-yeol administration, which raised its anchor by calling out ‘a global pivotal country that contributes to freedom, peace and prosperity’, has repeatedly expressed its will to add strength to the existing international order led by the United States.
The United States, whose scope of external communication has been reduced due to a number of internal problems, is reflecting on the possibility of Korea’s ‘expansion of its role’.
In particular, the US, which was trying to focus its capabilities on Asia, saying that the ‘fundamental challenge of the 21st century’ lies in China, is now in a position to focus on Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Above all, as China and Russia have declared that “cooperation has no limits,” it is not easy for the United States to handle everything alone.
Accordingly, the United States is seeking a ‘democratic solidarity’ that seeks to unite the Asian and European alliances as an opponent of China-Russia’s ‘authoritarian solidarity’.
In fact, in early last month, South Korea became the first Asian country to be listed as an official member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Cyber Defense Center. At the end of this month, the leaders of Japan, Australia and New Zealand, including President Yun Seok-yeol, are scheduled to attend the NATO summit in Spain.
As a ‘new strategic concept’ targeting China and Russia is adopted with this NATO summit as an opportunity, it is expected that the flow of strengthening solidarity between democratic countries by continent will accelerate.
Edwin Fuller, founder of the US Heritage Foundation, said at the Asan Symposium held on the 3rd of the last 3 days under the theme of ‘the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and the United States’, “Korea’s participation in the NATO summit as an observer at the end of June will be a good opportunity to enhance Korea’s international role. “It would be better to think of the Pacific (Asia) region together rather than thinking of it separately from Europe,” he said.
Finnish ambassador to Korea Teka Mecho said, “In the case of Finland, we are struggling every day on how to build a stronger alliance. “I want to. More and more European countries want security cooperation with Korea,” he said. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Finland gave up its neutral status and is pursuing NATO membership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin (file photo) ⓒShinhwa/NewsisSome are seeking to expand the role, but there are also voices that ‘speed control’ is necessary. It is argued that it is necessary to maximize the national interest by considering the possibility of opposition from China and Russia.
Kim Byung-joo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said that the ROK-U.S. alliance “must go further toward stability in Northeast Asia and world peace, rather than staying on peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.” expressed concern.
Rep. Kim said, “At this NATO summit, we will mainly discuss how NATO will respond to threats from Russia and China.” “The response to Russia includes military options. can give different signals, so we have to review it very carefully.”
He also said, “For the ruling party and the government to go to the Ukraine battlefield and see the situation, it might give the international community or Ukraine a wrong signal.”
It is pointed out that in a situation where the US and European countries expect South Korea’s ‘additional role’, such as providing weapons of lethality to Ukraine, the government and ruling party’s related external actions may instill ‘excessive expectations’.
Above all, Rep. Kim emphasized that the Ukrainian side has room to ‘extend’ the visits of the South Korean ruling party and government officials.
He said, “When we expect[South Korea]to even provide military weapons and[Ukraine asks for arms support from Korea]we will not be able to accept it,” he said. “We must not stand up for it, and we have to approach it from the point of view of the national interest,” he said.
The Asan Symposium 2022 is being held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. ⓒAsan Policy Research©Dailyan Co., Ltd. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited
