On August 18, Mr. Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, visited Camp David, the United States, to attend a Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit and Working Lunch with a small group with the Honourable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States of America, and H.E. Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK). At Camp David, the three leaders used the meeting as an occasion to declare a “new era of trilateral partnership,” building upon their respective strong bilateral partnerships to maintain a free, open, and law-based international system. The three presidents also agreed to strengthen strategic coordination between the US-ROK Alliance and the US-Japan Alliance in order to advance trilateral security cooperation.
They claimed in their joint statement that they did so at a pivotal moment in history when geopolitical competition, the climate crisis, and nuclear provocations tested them and at a time of unmatched opportunity for their nations and inhabitants. The leaders believe this is the moment when true partners must work together in unison to take action. Because they think their trilateral cooperation promotes the security and prosperity of their citizens, the region, and the entire world, the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea have guaranteed to collaborate their efforts.
President Biden emphasised that the United States’ obligations to Japan and the Republic of Korea in terms of extended deterrence are unwavering and supported by the entire spectrum of its capabilities. The three leaders also decided to act closely together at the UNSC, where the U.S., Japan, and the ROK will be working together as members in 2024. The three presidents agreed that there is still room for talks with North Korea.
Given the strategic importance of cooperation between Japan, the U.S., and the ROK, the three presidents talked about coordination towards achieving a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” in particular partnership with ASEAN and Pacific Island nations, and regional situations, especially the situation in Ukraine. The three presidents agreed to broaden the scope of their trilateral collaboration as they discussed enhancing coordination on economic security, including cooperation in vital and emerging technologies and supply chain resilience.
Strengthening the relationships between their democracies has long been a focus for Mr. Biden, going all the way back to his time as the vice president of the United States, he said in a televised opening session with the other leaders. He continued by saying that if they would stand together, both their nations and the entire world would be safer. The others mirrored the comments. Mr. Yoon declared that the day would go down in history as a historic day. Mr. Kishida agreed, stating that the trio’s ability to come together refers to the fact that they are actually writing a new history.
The three leaders agreed to further strengthen the partnership between Japan, the U.S., and the ROK in a multi-layered and stable way, including by holding trilateral meetings at least once a year, including at the leader level, as the three nations agreed at this meeting, as well as through newly created trilateral initiatives and frameworks for action.
