South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will attend the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting to strengthen ties amid U.S. pressures. His participation marks four years of involvement, focusing on defense cooperation and regional stability, particularly about North Korea and defense exports. Key discussions will also involve U.S. tariffs and the situation of North Korean prisoners held by Ukraine.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul is set to participate in the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting this week. This attendance comes at a pivotal time as Europe seeks to strengthen defense ties with Seoul amid U.S. pressure for increased burden-sharing and President Donald Trump’s call for a timely resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which North Korea supports.
Cho’s participation marks the fourth consecutive year that South Korea has been invited to the NATO meeting. The session will also include other Indo-Pacific partners—Japan, Australia, and New Zealand—and representatives from the EU and Ukraine, emphasizing the growing international collaboration.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry anticipates that discussions will focus on defense industry cooperation and enhancing security connections between Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Cho’s attendance is seen as a significant opportunity to advance strategic collaboration with NATO, particularly in defense exports, which South Korea is increasingly promoting to meet NATO member countries’ rising arms demands due to U.S. pressure for enhanced defense budgets.
Cho is expected to engage in bilateral talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and other foreign ministers, along with trilateral discussions involving U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. The trilateral meeting will address the North Korean nuclear situation, regional dynamics, and economic cooperation.
Key topics for the agenda may include the announcement of Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, discussions on North Korean prisoners of war currently held by Ukraine, and reaffirming the commitment to North Korea’s complete denuclearization. Cho’s attendance was confirmed shortly before a significant ruling by the Constitutional Court on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, highlighting the importance of this diplomatic engagement.
Cho Tae-yul’s attendance at the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting signals an important move towards strengthening South Korea’s defense partnerships in Europe amid U.S. policy changes. The discussions are expected to address key security concerns, including North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and defense industry collaborations. Despite domestic political challenges, South Korea remains focused on international defense cooperation.
Original Source: vietnamnews.vn
