(VOVWORLD) - The US-Japan-Republic of Korea summit takes place at Camp David in the US on Friday. It’s the first joint official summit for these countries, beyond the less formal talks that have been held on the sidelines of multilateral diplomatic gatherings. Observers say that the summit marks a new milestone in the trilateral alliance.
 US President Joe Biden (C), Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (R) and RoK President Yoon Suk Yeol meet on the sideline of the NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain, on June 29, 2022. (photo: AFP/VNA) |
The US, Japan, and the RoK had held 12 trilateral meetings, starting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in 1994.
Appropriate time
The trilateral summit brings together US President Joe Biden, RoK President Yoon Suk-yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. This is the first time US President Joe Biden has used Camp David to host international leaders since he took office in 2021.
The summit is organized at the proposal of President Joe Biden when the three leaders met on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Japan in May and agreed to take trilateral cooperation to a "new level", strengthen strategic cooperation to deal with the so-called "nuclear and missile threats" of the DPRK, and promote a free and open rules-based international order.
Analysts say that the summit takes place at the right time as South Korea and Japan have normalized their bilateral cooperation earlier this year and resolved territorial and historical disagreements that have affected their security and trade relations.
The three leaders have similar views on many issues in Northeast Asia and have their own strategies for the Indo-Pacific region. They are aware that a really close and reliable alliance and association will be the most favorable basis to ensure success for their strategic plans.
Laying a foundation for wider cooperation
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the leaders will discuss priority issues of shared concern, such as economic security, new technologies, humanitarian assistance, and development programs, and will institutionalize cooperation among the three countries to maintain security and stability inside and outside Asia.
 Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the US National Security Council John Kirby. (Photo: Reuters) |
Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby said that the summit will take the trilateral relationship to new heights.
Kurt Campbell, White House’s top Indo-Pacific adviser, said the summit will lay out “ambitious” steps to bolster trilateral security ties in the Indo-Pacific region.
The RoK's Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae Hyo said the trilateral consultations among the RoK, the US, and Japan will present a clear independent identity as an Indo-Pacific cooperation body.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that when international standards which were built on freedom and openness are shaken, Japan's bilateral relations with the US and South Korea are at their strongest, serving as the foundation of a historic opportunity to strengthen the strategic relationship between the three countries.
Camp David, the country retreat of US Presidents, has witnessed many historic events such as the negotiations between the US and British leaders during World War II and peace talks between the leaders of Israel and Arab countries.
Camp David is expected to become a diplomatic historic site for the 21st century, seeing US-Japan-RoK cooperation brought to a higher level.