You have reached the limit of 2 free articles this month. South Korea’s long-standing strategic framework, anchored by its alliance with the United States, is facing unprecedented pressure. While the U.S. alliance remains indispensable, the stability that once allowed Seoul to manage its regional and international relations is no longer guaranteed. Consequently, there is an urgent need for closer cooperation between South Korea, Japan, and the European Union to navigate a more networked and complex global environment.
The EU has already taken significant steps to strengthen ties in Asia. In November 2024, the bloc signed security and defense partnerships with both Tokyo and Seoul. Recent progress includes a defense-industry dialogue with Japan, alongside a digital trade agreement and deeper cooperation with South Korea on maritime security, cyber threats, and space. Despite these advancements, the current network is uneven; EU-Japan relations are more mature, while EU-South Korea ties still lack consistent strategic consultation. A trilateral format would help bridge this gap, leveraging the complementary capabilities of all three partners.
Four converging pressures necessitate this closer alignment. First, all three face significant demographic crises, impacting defense recruitment and industrial capacity. Second, while none can decouple from China, they must manage economic dependence by sharing risk maps and coordinating on export controls to avoid collateral damage. Third, U.S. policy volatility creates uncertainty, leaving allies to fear both abandonment and entrapment. Finally, the collapse of geographic separation between European and Asian security—highlighted by North Korean military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine—demonstrates that regional responses are no longer sufficient.
A proposed EU-Japan-South Korea strategic dialogue would function as a form of institutionalized hedging. For South Korea, the need is particularly acute. Japan already has the G7, a mature economic partnership with the EU, and expanding European defense ties. The feasibility of this initiative is supported by the significant improvement in Japan-South Korea relations, evidenced by summits in Nara in January 2026 and in South Korea in May 2026, demonstrating continuity across leadership changes in both countries since June 2025.
The dialogue should begin as a Track 1.5 process, focusing on concrete objectives such as critical mineral supply chain assessments, AI standards, and monitoring North Korea-Russia military cooperation. By horizontalizing these alliances, the partners can better absorb shocks and coordinate positions. This strategy is not a vote of no confidence in Washington, but a necessary step to build connective tissue among allies before future crises emerge. These themes were central to discussions at the “Democratic Multilateralism at the Edge” conference, held in Seoul on April 20, 2026.
