South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said that the country has held negotiations on joining the AUKUS defense agreement with the US, UK and Australia.
Established in 2021, AUKUS is a two-phase security treaty, created by the US, UK and Australia to respond to China’s growing power in the Asia Pacific region.
Mr. Shin Won-sik at the meeting of foreign and defense ministers of Australia and South Korea in Melbourne on May 1. Photo: Reuters
While the first phase of the agreement to provide nuclear submarine technology to Australia is limited to the core trio, it has raised the possibility of allowing other countries to join the pact in a second phase. two – “Pillar 2”, aimed at sharing other military technologies.
Speaking at a press conference today (May 1) after a meeting between the foreign and defense ministers of Australia and South Korea in Melbourne, Mr. Shin announced that South Korea could contribute to the second phase. with its defense, science and technology capabilities.
Reuters quoted the Korean Defense Minister as revealing: “In today’s meetings, we also discussed the possibility of cooperation with AUKUS Pillar 2. We support the activities of AUKUS Pillar 2 and we I welcome members’ consideration of Korea as a treaty partner.”
In addition to Canada, New Zealand and Japan, with its close relationship with the US and the world’s leading defense industry, South Korea has long been considered a potential partner of AUKUS Pillar 2.
Less than a month ago, AUKUS member countries announced that they were considering cooperation with Japan on certain defense projects in Pillar 2 and would hold negotiations on the country’s participation in this year.
China has strongly opposed the new military alliance. This month, Beijing even warned that AUKUS’s admission of additional members would destabilize the region.
According to Reuters, expanding the treaty also faces hurdles from strict US restrictions on technology sharing. Australia and Britain fear this could hinder the agreement if the process of admitting new members happens too quickly.
The US State Department on April 30 announced a plan to relax previous restrictions and make the transfer of military equipment and sensitive technology to the UK and Australia easier.
