Allies meet as China, Russia, North Korea deepen security cooperation
The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan are scheduled to meet Tuesday in Ankara for trilateral talks, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said. The meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit will address North Korea-related issues, regional security and economic cooperation, the ministry said.
The trilateral talks will be the first since the three top diplomats last met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern South Korean city of Gyeongju in October last year, according to officials.
The meeting comes as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to skip this year’s NATO summit, making a three-way summit among South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, U.S. President Donald Trump and Takaichi not expected to take place, officials said. The ministerial meeting is seen as an opportunity to reaffirm the momentum of trilateral cooperation.
The ministers are expected to explore ways to further strengthen three-way cooperation amid mounting geopolitical challenges, including the Middle East crisis, Russia’s war with Ukraine and disruptions of global supply chains, according to the ministry.
The meeting also comes as North Korea, China and Russia have been deepening diplomatic, economic and security cooperation in recent years, raising concerns among Washington and its allies about a shifting security landscape in Northeast Asia and beyond, officials said.
South Korea is also expected to seek bilateral high-level talks with the U.S. and other partner nations on the sidelines of the NATO summit to discuss pending issues, including security consultations and other bilateral matters.