United States of America keep turning right Asia. American President, Joe Bidensigned a new tripartite alliance this Friday Japan And South Korea will serve to ensure their mutual security, improve their coordination in strategic areas such as the army and try to control their progress. Chinese.
Japanese Prime Minister Biden, at the trilateral summit, which he described as “historic”, Fumio Kishidaand the President of South Korea, Yoon SukyeolThe three countries agreed on a “consultation commitment” in which the three countries must accept as their own any threat or attack on one of their insides and agree on a joint response. This commitment shall not oblige them to take action in the face of aggression, as provided for in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Treaty.NATO), but strengthens defense cooperation.
triumvirate It agreed to expand the tripartite military exercises they conduct every year, and to share intelligence to strengthen their forces. cyber defense and against ballistic missiles and to develop a framework for assistance in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. In addition, leaders have pledged to hold annual meetings “forever”, a corporate arrangement similar to that the US has with Canada and Mexico, and a tripartite hotline will be set up so they can communicate safely in the event of a crisis. “If I look happy, it’s because I am,” Biden said at a press conference after the meeting. “The world is at a tipping point and our nations have decided to stand together.”
The agreement does not contain a common framework for its potential use. nuclear weapons. In April, Biden and Yoon strengthened strategic ties and agreed on greater coordination in the face of a possible military response to threats from the United States. North Korea. However, Japan, the only country in the world to fall victim to these weapons, refused to participate.
Beyond the military, a number of initiatives signed today will also accelerate tripartite cooperation in other strategic areas. technology, science wave education. Thus, they will create a system that will detect possible problems in the system. supply chain It focuses on the materials needed to create it. semiconductorsA vital component for consumer computing, but also for automotive or military technology. South Korea, Japan and the USA are the main producers. advanced chips the world behind taiwan. In recent months, both the United States and Japan have promoted blockade measures so that China cannot access this key strategic element for its economy.
Tour between Tokyo and Seoul
Although Washington is an old ally Tokyo And seoul Separately, relations between the two Asian countries have been problematic historically, this tension stemming from brutal conflicts. job and the oppression that the Japanese empire inflicted on the Korean people for almost 35 years. This hostility has undermined US efforts to unite its neighbors, China and North Korea, under a single goal.
However, that started to change under Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidency. According to a Gallup poll, up to 64% of South Koreans demanded further change in Japan’s stance to end the compromise, but the president chose to reach out to his old enemy. After being elected last year, the South Korean leader has managed to get both countries to lift the trade restrictions they have imposed. This turn opened the door to a historic deal. That’s why the new alliance was staged. Camp DavidMaryland presidential retreat that has never opened its doors to foreign leaders.
geopolitical influence
New triple alliance angered beijingIt sees numerous US operations aimed at curbing the growth of the Asian giant, the largest economic powerhouse in the region. “The next summit between the leaders of the three countries aims to create a ‘mini NATO’ structure that will be devastating to regional security and complicating the situation with more conflict,” wrote The Global Times. chinese communist party.
The main strategic axis of Biden’s foreign policy has been to forge alliances with Indo-Pacific countries to try to weaken their common rivals. Despite this, the US administration denies trying to form a NATO-like military alliance.
Experts agree that this diplomatic turning point is partly in response to destabilization. geopolitics triggered by war inside Ukrainerekindled interest in security. US-allied Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea fear that China may act like the US in the future. Russia and to occupy a neighbor militarily, taiwan In the spotlight. Beijing last year Moscow They held joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan shortly after the new alliance tested the missiles. This fear of conflict is behind the deal signed today with Washington, even though China’s expansion is primarily focused on its trade power.
“The long-term ultimate goal should be to directly connect the Japanese and South Korean missile defense systems, rather than using the United States as a mediator,” said Max Boot and Sue Mi Kerry, analysts at the Council on Foreign Relations. A former analyst at the CIA, to the ‘Washington Post’.