South Korea, the United States, and Japan are set to announce the establishment of a trilateral secretariat this week. The formal announcement is expected during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, where leaders from the three nations will meet on the sidelines of the annual forum.
The initiative, a step towards institutionalising their growing cooperation, was revealed by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Speaking to reporters, Sullivan emphasised that the secretariat aims to create a permanent framework for collaboration between the three nations.
The move follows the historic standalone trilateral summit held at Camp David in August last year. During that meeting, the leaders laid the groundwork for enhancing ties among the US and its two key Asian allies. This week’s development is a continuation of those efforts, signalling a deeper commitment to three-way cooperation.
According to Sullivan, the secretariat will enable collaboration at all levels of government across the three nations. He explained that this framework is designed to ensure that their trilateral partnership extends beyond occasional leadership meetings, embedding coordination into their respective governmental structures.
In addition to the secretariat, leaders are expected to announce further steps in various areas of collaboration. Trilateral defence exercises are anticipated to be a key focus. Sullivan highlighted the success of "Freedom Edge," the first major trilateral exercise, and noted that future discussions would aim to expand such initiatives.
Other areas of focus include technology protection, supply chain diversification, and missile warning systems. Sullivan indicated that progress had been made in these areas since Camp David and that further advancements would be discussed during the APEC meeting.
The secretariat's establishment is seen as a milestone in the partnership among South Korea, the US, and Japan. It represents their shared commitment to addressing regional and global challenges collectively. It also formalises agreements made at Camp David, including the "Commitment to Consult," a pledge to support one another in the event of a shared threat.
However, questions remain about the continuity of these efforts under the incoming US administration. With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in January, concerns have been raised about whether his "America First" policy stance might lead to a shift in US foreign policy priorities. Observers suggest that Trump's approach could affect the momentum of institutionalising trilateral cooperation.
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