US President Joe Biden attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, 15 November 2024. Photo: Leah Millis / Reuters
On Friday, US President Joe Biden met with South Korean President Yun Seok-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the three countries. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru. It wasreported by Reuters.
The meeting, which took place against the backdrop of the upcoming election of Donald Trump’s administration, was aimed at emphasising the importance of trilateral relations, which Biden considers to be the key to stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“I believe that our cooperation will be the foundation for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region for many years to come,” Biden said during the trilateral meeting.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the announcement of the creation of the Trilateral Secretariat, which is to ensure the sustainability of cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan. As noted by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, this will help avoid situations where such meetings remain mere events without further development.
Tensions in the region
The main topic of discussion was the challenges posed by North Korea, which has recently intensified cooperation with Russia, in particular through the supply of military drones for the war in Ukraine. In a joint statement, the leaders of the three countries condemned these actions, as well as Pyongyang’s continued development of nuclear weapons.
“Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States strongly condemn the decision of the leaders of North Korea and Russia to dangerously expand their war of aggression against Ukraine,” the statement said.
The situation is further complicated by rising tensions between the US and China. Biden’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is also scheduled to take place within the framework of APEC, could be another important event for the region.
Challenges for the Trump administration
Against the backdrop of Biden’s statements about strengthening cooperation, US President-elect Donald Trump has raised concerns among Asian allies about his “America First” policy. His scepticism about the financial and military support of the allies could jeopardise the progress made.
Sullivan warned that historically, periods of presidential change in the United States have been accompanied by provocative actions by North Korea.
“We cannot count on a period of calm from Pyongyang,” he said.
In addition to working with South Korea and Japan, the two countries also agreed to expand cooperation with the Philippines in areas such as infrastructure, energy and transport.
Despite uncertainty about Trump’s future policies, Biden remains confident that the trilateral relationship will continue to serve as an important barrier against China and North Korea’s aggressive actions in the region.
