In August 2023, the U.S., Japan and South Korea agreed on a framework for trilateral cooperation to usher in a “new era” in relations among the three countries. The Camp David Principles are significant, but how meaningful they end up being will depend on whether the agreed-upon cooperative mechanisms can deliver practical results.
East Asia
It’s common knowledge that the possibility of a second term for former U.S. President Donald Trump is sending shivers up the spines of Washington’s NATO allies. But the prospect of a second Trump presidency is also heightening anxieties among U.S. allies in Asia, which have also relied on U.S. security assurances for decades.
In August 2023, Japan, South Korea and the U.S. signed a set of documents intended to deepen and institutionalize trilateral cooperation. But whether these agreements can endure will depend on domestic politics in Japan and especially South Korea, and not least of all whether their disputes over historical issues can be overcome.