US Chief Holds First Trilateral Talks with Japan, South Korea in 15 Years

Defence chiefs from the United States, South Korea, and Japan committed to bolstering cooperation against North Korea’s “nuclear and missile threats”.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the defence ministers’ summit in Tokyo has marked the first trilateral gathering in 15 years as part of a broader initiative to enhance coordination among the three nations amid regional tensions.

The trilateral meeting follows a pivotal summit hosted by US President Joe Biden at Camp David nearly a year ago, aimed at fortifying alliances with Japan and South Korea in light of North Korean provocations and Chinese assertiveness.

In their joint statement, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Japan’s Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara, and South Korea’s Shin Won-sik emphasized their unified stance against North Korea’s threats. They also expressed “grave concern” over the growing military and economic ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, noting accusations of North Korea supplying weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

The enhanced trilateral cooperation signifies a shift in regional dynamics, with Tokyo and Seoul working to overcome historical grievances to address mutual security concerns.

Following last year’s Camp David summit, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida announced plans for regular high-level meetings and new military exercises among the nations, alongside establishing a crisis communication hotline.

The collaboration has faced criticism from Beijing, which opposes turning the Asia-Pacific into a zone of geopolitical rivalry.

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Although Sunday’s statement did not mention China explicitly, the defence leaders reaffirmed their opposition to unilateral changes in the Indo-Pacific’s status quo and reviewed recent military activities in the region, including the South China Sea.

Additionally, the defense chiefs formalized an agreement to institutionalize trilateral security cooperation, involving policy consultations, information sharing, and joint exercises.

A US defence official revealed plans to reconstitute US Forces Japan (USF-J) as a joint force headquarters, enhancing its leadership role in coordination with Japan’s Joint Operations Command. This transformative change aims to strengthen US-Japan military ties significantly.

The official stated, “When this transition is complete, USF-J will have a direct leadership role in planning and leading US forces in both peacetime and potential crises, and they’ll be doing that side by side with Japanese forces like never before.”

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